by Paul K. McMasters

About the author: Paul K. McMasters is the First Amendment ombudsman at the Freedom Forum, a foundation that focuses on speech and press issues.

More than one year has passed, and we have yet to shake the image of Matthew Shepard pistol-whipped and strung up to die on a Wyoming rail fence in October 1998 because he was gay. We still shudder over the horror of James Byrd chained to a pickup truck and dragged to his death along a Texas country road in June 1998 because he was black. We cringe when reminded of the racist rampage of Benjamin Smith that left two people dead and nine others wounded in July 1999.

America, we like to feel, has room for everyone. It is a place of tolerance, equality, and justice. Hate is a singular affront to...