Hate crimes are anti-thesis to the very idea of justice. There's no way to prove someone is acting out of hate unless they declare it. You have to stick to the facts, and not grey areas. Treason is not merely coporate espionage - it's betraying your country. Selling nuclear secrets isn't the same as selling the formula for coke. Why? Do you need to ask? Manslaughter is less because it doesn result in death. A serial killer kills more then one person, and it's pre-meditated. We don't need "hate" crime. It's a crime, that's enough.
If somebody paints nazi symbols on your house and then murders you ...the facts are pretty clear. That wasn't simply about a robbery gone wrong. The act of treason and espionage is EXACTLY the same thing. Only difference is who the victim is. Is it your country or company. Same crime ...different victims ...different punishment. It helps when we have rational converstions if we all understand the subject. As I've said, hate crimes are an important distinction because the crimes affects more than just the victim ...it affects entire communities. But you refuse to even acknowledge this point.
At the, "are you with it", line? That's about the only 'beginning' before the crowd gathered pretty much predisposed to berate and instigate a confrontation. I'm sure a "hells yeah!" would've diffused the future ass kicking they had no idea would be comming with the great hints that are some guy grabbing his crotch and an obscure incoherent question.