9781422284063

People Who Hate

More than 1,000 Jewish demonstrators gather in Anderlecht, Belgium, three weeks after a synagogue was firebombed there on April 1, 2002. Their sign compares the recent anti-Semitism with Nazi atrocities in 1938. Most crimes involve some type of hate. A “hate crime,” however, has become a specialized term for a criminal act committed against someone from a minority or “different” group. Crimes like this have always been committed and even influenced the course of history. Words to Understand Bias: another name for prejudice Bigotry: another word for prejudice Gender: the sex of a person (male or female) Harassment: to annoy persistently Intimidation: making someone timid or fearful through the use of threats Racism: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race Segregated: separated, especially the system of keeping different races apart Stereotype: oversimplified image that is always used for a type of people, whether true or not Synagogue: Jewish house of worship Zero tolerance: a law enforcement policy of cautioning or arresting people who commit small offenses, since these acts might encourage worse crimes

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