The writer runs some numbers and shares his thoughts. The piece is informative, but I’m ambivalent about one aspect.
I am in favor of collecting accurate and detailed data for the statistical analysis of crimes in Virginia. I also dislike the term hate crime because it is legally ambiguous and can cause unintended perceptions in common usage. Maybe something like bias crime would be better.
Tidewater News and Opinion Forum 
Towards the end of his piece, the writer uses the phrase “non-existent threats”. He may want to consider that he has never been the target of any threat. There is no such thing as non-existent threat when it comes to hate or bias (choose your own adjective).
Vandalism could easily be a precursor to an actual physical threat. TO refer to vandalism, in this instance, downplaying what could happen. “It’s just a little spray paint. No big deal.” Sorry, but when it is your house of worship marked with a symbol that calls for your extermination, it IS a big deal. With the worldwide history of anti-Semitism that has led to physical threat and actual violence, none of it should be downplayed. – IMO
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I wonder how specific the vandalism is?
Are they painting swastikas on Synagogues because they are antisemitic or are they just out to offend and they know that is the best way to be offensive to Jews? Would the same vandals paint Fuck on a Convent, Cunt on a NOW office or Georgia O’Keefe paintings on a Mosque?
In other words, are they Nazi’s or just assholes?
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“…are they Nazi’s or just assholes?”
Is there a difference? I don’t think those terms are mutually exclusive.😇
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All ducks are birds, but not all birds are ducks.
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Don’t have to be a Nazi to be an anti-Semite. And “assholes” give them too much credit. An asshole is a functional part of the body (of which mine is “closed”, So i am aware of its importance.)
“Are they painting swastikas on Synagogues because they are antisemitic or are they just out to offend and they know that is the best way to be offensive to Jews?”
That kind of offensiveness IS anti-Semitic. Trying to give them a pass as you often do?
Haters hate and some of them turn to violence or violent threats that start as vandalism.
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Not giving anyone a pass. Just trying to determine if we have an increase specifically in antisemitism or assholes in general.
Both need to be hunted down, but how you hunt them is different.
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Sounds like it. That is why I asked the question.
And the statistics bear out that it is anti-Semitic assholes, not generic ones.
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I wonder if the young punks who spray paint swastikas could be sentenced to the time it takes for them to memorize the Torah…in Hebrew.
Add Aramaic for those who did more than $1000 in damage.
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I wonder if the people who destroyed war memorials, torched police stations, set cities on fire, looted businesses, destroyed livelihoods, squatted/commandeered/bunkered on huge sections of public/private property could be rounded up and deported to Haiti or Somalia where burning your own backyard and warlord rule is acceptable.
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Sure, and maybe the 1/6 thugs could join them.
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Another one giving a pass to anti-Semites?
Whataboutism takes an ugly turn.
Coming for you, I am not surprised.
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