I was having a class discussion with colleagues about the three students from Alabama, and I was appalled at some of their attitudes. At least two people in the class tried to make these pointless acts of arson and sacriledge seem to be a joke. In my view, it most certainly is NOT a joke! Burning a Church is a grave offense. In my opinion, a church is not just an ordinary building. It is a sacred place to me. However, I do understand that a church is comprised of People- ergo, the members are what truly matters. Be that as it may, I am angered that people are not more outraged. My colleagues said that the students were just burning buildings, and that is was not about religion or faith. But my counterargument was that if it was not about religion, then why did the students burn Churches, instead of just convenience stores, or houses? Please share your thoughts about this matter, and be honest. Thank you, everyone, for your responses. I have a few comments to add, if I may. My point about religion was misunderstood. I was not saying that the perpetrators should be punished more severely just on the basis alone that they chose to burn Holy buildings- the point I was illustrating is that the argument that my fellow students made that the motives of the perpetrators were not religious in nature is incorrect. Again, if the arsonists were not motivated by some religious theme, grudge, etc., then why did they set churches afire? Why not an ordinary barn? I am not saying that it's okay to burn homes, nor businesses, nor vacant buildings. That is not what I am saying at all. What I am saying is that there were ulterior motives to the crime. The students (the men who burned the churches) said it was a "joke". But that is not true. The truth is that there was a hidden motive behind it. Everyone has a motive. Yes, a church is a building- but it is a Holy place. Arson is against the law.
Current Events - 8 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
I think that burning a church can constitute as a hate crime and should be punished as such. It's so strange those people you spoke to think it's a joke. Would they think it was a joke if someone burned down their house?
Answer 2 :
i think they should be serverly punished...they are immoral...but in the end i know they will be punished
Answer 3 :
Yes they should be punished severely. I heard that the college that they attend is also considering helping the churches. I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks for your input.
Answer 4 :
They should be punished as arsonists. It would be the same to those who love the arts - what if these students had burned art galleries or museums? To provide "extra" punishment for burning churches means we're putting religion on a higher plane than other interests, and we should *NEVER* do that. That would be a legal sanction of religion as more important than other cultural activities, and it is not so. *Any* crime is a "hate crime." A robber hates the idea of being poor or not having easily accessible cash; a killer hates the idea that a certain person is alive or is jealous that someone else has something more or better than he has it; a rapist hates that women don't find him attractive or won't willingly give in to him sexually..... Why would it have been "better" for these kids to burn convenience stores or houses? Some people work/make a living because of convenience stores, and people live in houses! Do you want peoples' homes destroyed in favor of your precious church? YOU CAN WORSHIP AT HOME. Kneel down by your bed and pray - real simple stuff.
Answer 5 :
I think they should be charged under the hate crimes statute which provides harsher punishments under that particular mandate.
Answer 6 :
I fully agree with you. It's amazing what events no longer shock people or make people believe in something of substance. They're not upset about it being a church, a place of worship, but had it been their homes they would have been outraged. It makes you wonder as Americans what do we stand for? What do we believe in? What do we unite and fight for? Like the old saying goes, "Stand for something, or you will fall for anything."
Answer 7 :
I'm not religious at all, but i still think they should be seriously punished. A church is sacred in the sense that it is very important and special to the people who worship there. It is private property and anyone to assaults such property with such ignorant fiery should pay the consequences.
Answer 8 :
10 to 15 sounds about right plus financial restitution would be a great "joke" to play on those three criminals. I don't care that it was churches they destroyed other peoples property there should be consequences
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