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April 07, 2005Correction / ApologyBy Byron LaMastersIn recent weeks I've been interviewed twice - once by the Waco Tribune-Herald and once for a senior thesis - with questions relating to how blogs are accountable, and how inaccuracies are corrected. I've stated before that blogs have a self-correcting nature to them, as corrections can be posted in comments, or are often received via email. With that in mind, it came to my attention via email that there was an inaccuracy in my characterization of State Rep. Jim Keffer (R-Eastland)'s vote on the 2001 James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act. Keffer did vote to table the bill (as the YCT voting record suggests), but ultimately voted for final passage of the act as can be seen in the official record. It's something of a flip-flop, but Keffer voted the right way on final passage. You will note that I have revised my original post on this significantly. I tend to separate the James Byrd Hate Crimes Act and same-sex marriage equality in the way that I view things. The Hate Crimes Act sent a strong message that crimes of hate - crimes directed at one particular race, ethnicity, religion or sexual "preference" will not be tolerated in the state of Texas, and such crimes should receive certain recognition and increased penalties. I would find it inexcusable for someone with a gay son or daughter to vote against such a bill. As for same-sex marriage equality, it is my opinion that the GLBT community must do a lot more work before we can expect politicians to embrace the issue. It would be disappointing if State Rep. Jim Keffer votes against allowing his son to have the same marriage rights that he or any other straight person has, but regardless, it is obvious that he loves his son, and I apologize for giving the impression that I was questioning that. Posted by Byron LaMasters at April 7, 2005 01:33 PM | TrackBack
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Thanks for the update and correction, Byron. It is the self-correcting nature of blogging that maintains the integrity of this new medium. In the same spirit, I want to amend my original comment--undoubtedly, Rep. Keffer does love his son. But I still take issue with those who preach family values, yet, disown their children or vote against their best interest. I, too, will be disappointed if Keffer's vote goes against providing equal opportunity for his son. Posted by: Andrea Meyer at April 7, 2005 02:04 PMApologizing when you think you're wrong is always admirable, but I don't think you're wrong here. I don't care if it's a child, parent, best friend of whatever -- if you claim you love someone, and then vote specifically and directly against their equality under the law, against their basic human dignity, against their access to an institution that you take for granted, well, I doubt that love. There is no possible justification for treating someone you claim to "love" in such a manner. It is completely reprehensible. This goes beyond politics and party and is a DIRECT question about how you view gay people, whether you think they're truly worthy of equality and the recognition of their basic human dignity. If this goes to the ballot, and if my parents vote for it, I would consider that a direct attack on me, and will respond accordingly. How much more of a direct attack it would be to have one's own parent write it. It takes a uniquely terrible person to actively support a bill that will denigrate one's own child. Posted by: Kirk McPike at April 7, 2005 03:51 PMSorry, I should have said "How much more of a direct attack it would be to have one's own parent publicly back it." and not "write it." My fingers got ahead of me. Posted by: Kirk McPike at April 7, 2005 03:54 PMByron, kudos on the mea culpa, but I gotta disagree with you on the Hate Crimes bill. We should not be doling out special treatment or heightened penalties for crimes depending on what the person was thinking, regardless of how repugnant the thoughts may be to you or me. Thought crime is a very dangerous road to start down. Posted by: Drew at April 8, 2005 03:47 PMWe have always doled out different penalties for crimes based on why the crime was committed. Adding "hatred of a class of people" to the subset which carries harsher punishment hardly seems like the invocation of thought police. Shouldn't a crime that was intended to punish a person for being black, and thus wreak terror in the entire black community (thus spreading outward the number of victims), be punished more harshly than, say, an unthinking crime of passion? Not all crime is created equal. Posted by: Kirk McPike at April 9, 2005 02:29 PM
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