I was saddened about an article (BDN, Feb. 6) regarding two Aroostook County teen-agers charged with hate crimes in Caribou. Two teens targeted a man they thought was gay, attacked and beat him for no other reason other than they thought he was gay.

It’s a good thing there is a hate crimes law in Maine. At least we recognized the difference, not like the politicians in Wyoming who, along with the selected president of the United States and many other politicians in Washington, do not think a hate crimes bill is needed.

Also, the defeat of Yes on 6 sent a message that gay, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals and people who are perceived to be such do not deserve any protection. People were not put here to judge, but to love one another. There is no room for hatred or any other kind of abuse because there is enough to do to meet the needs of others for food, medicine, clothing, housing and the list goes on.

Hatred is taught in the home from one adult to a child, and people who do this in the name of “religion” are sending a terrible message to everyone. If you claim to be a Christian, then do it not only with words but also by example. How many remember the Rev. Philips from Topeka, Kan. who paid our state a visit last fall? Does he speak for all Christians? Do jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Michael Heath speak for all Christians as well? Yet, they are behind all things that are not in their beliefs and all of us must believe the same as they.

Dan Williams

Bangor