The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

Link: Europe must be united in criminalizing racism, EU lawmakers say – Europe.

Assuming that there has been "…a strong increase in racist acts…" (and leaving aside for a moment who is responsible for most of them) what – properly viewed – is the evil to be addressed by law? Is it the racism, or is it the act?

If someone is attacked, their property damaged or their family’s graves desecrated then what does it matter why? It is the evil act that should be illegal, not the evil thought behind it. Of course, the evil act already is illegal. So the "EU lawmakers" are indulging in that filthy vice of lawmakers everywhere; perverting the legislative process to make a political point. They are not proposing necessary laws. They are just yelling "Look at us. We are good people. We are not nasty racists."

I should bloody well hope not, so why don’t you just shut up and do something useful?