Americans. I realise Scottish people are annoying but does that justify setting fire to them in the street?

Obviously the woman wasn’t set afire because she was Scottish, but because she was perceived to be Muslim.
Yes, this is a hate crime. No, there is no good reason for it.

I agree it was a hate crime because the attacker perceived her to be Muslim due to her clothing not because she was Scottish.

No, of course not. As a rule, we Americans don’t advocate mob justice or hate crimes.

@kritiper that’s a sweeping statement with evidence to the contrary. There have been quite a few lynchings in the US since 2000 according to google.

That’s just not acceptable in a civil society be in US or anywhere else. But sadly it’s been on rise in countries like US, UK, Australia where people are being targeted due to their religion / nationality / faith.

Who says that the Scots are annoying? I find them charming.

Let’s get a grip, shall we?

Even assuming that it was “an attack”, it hardly qualifies as the crime of the century. I doubt if in NYC it was even “the crime of the minute”. A hole the size of a quarter on the arm of a dress? I’ve been injured worse on a vacation trip to the beach with friends – and we’re all still friends.

Let’s assume for the moment that it was deliberate, that it was unprovoked and that it was done with an intent to create great bodily harm or even death. In other words, assume the worst about the attacker. In execution, it’s still essentially nothing, even if it has damaged the peace of mind of an undeserving victim. In that case I agree that it is beyond the pale and worthy of condemnation, outrage and prosecution, but it’s still much ado about not much.

All of the things that I stipulated to in the last paragraph would still have to be proven in court to be accepted as true, however. I doubt whether that can be done even if the man can be tracked down and arrested.

^^sure for prosecution it will depend on extent of damage done..what if this provokes more crimes like that against a specific community if this one is let go? The mentality behind it should be condemned in any case.

I guess setting fire to people is the sort of “freedom” that muslims hate america for.

@Lightlyseared But it isn’t legal. For instance, out in society it seems perfectly normal and acceptable to assume guilt before innocence. But, thank goodness, that’s not the way the judicial system looks at it.

I can’t think of any justification for burning someone in a public street and I hope the perpetrator is caught and punished before they cause serious injury to someone.

Trump.

How do you ‘realize’ that Scottish people are annoying?

@lorna
‘realise’

@LornaLove I’m British so use British spelling and grammar conventions. It’s amusing how often that upsets people on here

^^^ Canadian spelling, as well.

I’m half-American and I almost always spell it “realize”.

However, I realise the other spelling iz the one chozen by the originators of the English language, so I have no problem with either one. ;-)

@Lightlyseared Oh gosh no, I am Brits too. I think I just spell the American way when I am on American sites. Well for the most part. I thought you were digging at the Scots! I live in Scotland. ;) I know they are annoying but they are my family now so only I am allowed to say so!

@LornaLove I’m English. Of course I was having a dig at the Scots. although actually I was having a dig at islamophobia, and intolerance in general… but don’t tell anyone.