I started not to comment because many of you people sound so young and miss informed. However to make an attempt at some education for you. During the late 50's and early 60's young Blacks were trying to find some thing to feel good about them selves since ever thing that they had ever seen that was positive was "White". TV, Radio, News, Books, toys, expression that represented good where white and any thing bad was black. Soon Educated "Blacks" learned about the positive contributions that had been made to this country by their fore father, but was never told about it in "Segergated School Systems" so as many "Blacks" became more educated they felt that it was up to them to promote them self's because the Whites weren't going to. To make a long story short many of our interest are different than yours, and when we do have similarities the white media don't include us so we like to have the power to show other blacks what we look like in those roles which gives us a part in this society. I could go on and on, but many of your should have the intel to figure this out with out that same old line you white people lay down about BET. We Black wouldn't give a dam if you name all of the already white mediums White this or that they are already we aren't blind just in power of our own identity.

There seems to be a lot of animosity here. Mind you that someone did mention that he is a repeat offender...well take that into consideration and look at his record. It has been a very very long time since he has done anything, he has tried to clear things up in his life is what it would seem. The point I am trying to get at with this is that we do not know what life behind bars is like, have you ever stopped to consider that those tattoos he acquired while behind bars? I do not condone what happened by any means, but it is entirely possible that maybe we are just as bad by judging someone who has managed to stay out of trouble for a while based on tattoos and possibly a part of Mr. VerHaagh's life that he has left behind. I know that many people out there are very fast to judge others based on things like that, but maybe we need to look past that past and see that yes he was behind bars and yes he does have offensive tattoos, but that doesn't mean those things reflect who he is or what his beliefs are. I know people will say you can have tattoos removed, I had a small inch long and 1/4 inch wide tattoo removed and instead I have a huge ugly scar that is worse than if I had left the tattoo. We should not be the kind of people to judge others when we do not know, but to charge someone for a hate crime is a big thing, and I have a problem with this because I think he is being charged based on TATTOOS, and that does not sit well with me because it is an injustice and just a shame.

Mymaro...apparently it is only appropriate to be prejudice if A) you are black B) if you are an employer and you have two people applying for a job...one white with better qualifications and another black without the qualifications to do the job at hand and you must hire the person who is black because the government tells you to C) if you are a university who only has so many spots in a certain program and the government again tells you to accept a certain number of minorities even if it means you are turning away others with better test scores etc. D)if you are any person on earth if the group you are discriminating against happens to be Christians. It's also amazing to me how many on this post who claim to be so open minded on other posts, especially the policial ones, are quick to be so close minded here.

I do not think anyone should be punched for being black and I don't think anyone should not get the job because they are white. I don't think we should have black television, nor do I think we should have all white television. God created all men to be equal. There should not be special treatment for anyone and if minorities would stand up for themselves and not expect handouts on socialistic agendas and rightfully earn what they get, then all would be well. Merit...not handouts!

my boyfriend owns the bar that this occurred at. the white guy walked in and ordered a drink. then he decided to tell some women near him that he hates anyone who isnt white. then he showed them his tattoos, walked over to the only black man in the bar and punched him in the eye knocking his unconcious. then he just walked out like nothing ever happened. thats why he is being charged with a hate crime which he has been charged with in the past.

teacher2be....great! look how they critize you for your OPINION. just as you said, they will critize anyone with a different opinion, and sure enough they did.....LOL!
what i said in an earlier post gave one a reason to say i am ignorant. in their small, rose colored glasses wearing, head in the sand, rock county limited world they exist in, no one is allowed a different opinion.

Just to clarify, I said we shouldn't condemn people for their views...when their actions are harmful to other people, that is a completely different story. I already said I do not condone the actions of Mr. Verhaagh.

SarahB, not to worry, I plan on becoming a math teacher, not history. And for the record, I am aware that the Nazis captured, tortured, and killed millions. But unless I missed something in the story, Mr. Verhaagh did not capture, torture or kill anybody.

mytake4u, I didn't call you a name. I described a condition you have that you can change. Obviously you prefer to play the victim card yourself, which is probably why you believe that is the only reason anyone could possibly claim racism.

Okay, teacher2be...should we not judge the population of child abusers? Their views are different than many of ours who don't abuse their children, after all. How about rapists?

Teach2b...I never said that I hate anyone, but I do lack tolerance for people who prey upon others with a different level of pigment in their skin. This nazi should have his picture next to the word "pusillanimous" in the dictionary.

Teacher2be: Whatever you do, please never think about becoming a history teacher. The Nazi regime captured, tortured and then killed millions of people!

Why would you have a tattoo of a swastika? Not only is it offensive to the majority of people in the world, it is very unamerican.

shut up: Only the ignorant would yell prejudice,but i think yes you would be arrested. I got an idea,"IF" that were ever to happen "YOU" yell prejudice First,then you might stand a chance of NOT getting arrested! lol

So if I defend myself against a black person/homosexual/Mexican and I happen to be white I can get arrested for a hate crime?

WOW a teacher2b To have a different view is fine to HATE in my opinion is NOT... To act on hate with violence IS A CRIME not a freedom of speech. I can elaborate on this because I raised my nephews (bi_racial) and was a target of of a hate group in this very city and severely beaten and yes I have a problem with those type of hateful people who target the children (4 and 6 yrs old) at the time. There are people from all walks of life that live like this and to allow it or condone it makes you just as sick as them!

To be wearing the tatoos swaztik a and hitler image speaks for itself (IMO) I would think the picture is clear on the issue at hand Life is as you live it and it is time to grow up and accept that all races are here and going to continue to be here! Just something to ponder here, It is 2008 and it continues but not just to any peticular race anymore and I would like an updated version of the term minority! in my opinion it is much more when it comes to how people are treated no matter what race color or creed!!!!!!

I was going to stay out of this one, but seriously, piznat, are you listening to yourself? You are saying that this guy is by default an a-hole because he belongs to a group you don't like. You don't like them because their views are different than yours and that makes his views ignorant and stupid.

I'm not defending Mr. Verhaagh's actions in any way. I just love the irony of people who hate people who don't agree with them because those other people unfairly hate a different group.

Wow I feel the love in here, Everyone Stay Safe!!!!

it says he is a repeat offender?

MYTAKE do you know it wont be long,that the white will be the menority,then WILL the racism stop,i doubt it. Get over it,the blacks or WHITES that are living "NOW" had nothing to do with what happened years ago. Should every race ALWAYS look back at how their ancestors were treated,and live their lives today, as if they are the victims?? I think not! Choices People,we all have. Poor me,just don't cut it!! SARAH,I to would like to know what U mean!

No, mytake4u, I would just call you ignorant and inexperienced of the broader world. That's something you have in your power to change.

it seems when a black person gets the worst end of the deal they yell racism. they even claim school work is stacked against them and demand lowering the standards. if you can't learn, you just can't learn. racism has nothing to do with it.
i'm sure i will be called a racist now....lol!

Janesville once again shows its own true color.

Bar fights happen all the time. "Words" are usually said when fighting,just like a man & woman fighting,some times bad words come out,that's the way it is. Maybe the guy that got hit called the white guy a name? Sounds like a one sided story here. When all else fails,yell prejudice. Who cares,other ethnicks call white people names,do we have to recite the stick & stone thingy? Grow up "WHO CARES ANYWAY"

My mistake, I meant it's called CMT

Whatever happened to "love thy neighbor?"

What if I, a white woman, smacked the crack out of the white guy for being adolf reincarnated? Oh, wait, that would be racist and not worth the consequences. My time and energy is not worth dumb, narrow-minded fools who think that their blood runs more red than the next person's!

how about every other station on tv is WET

Would it have been a hate crime if the black guy hit the nazi?

That's pretty much your textbook example right there.