Watertown's Hate Guy

A couple years back, the Watertown Town Council adopted a resolution supporting No Place to Hate, an Anti-Defamation League program that basically says hatred is a bad thing.

Ralph Filicchia recently saw a sign about the town's official position that Hate is Bad, and he went to the Town Council last night to explode in a paroxysm of disgust for anybody who would dare to tell him he can't hate Mexicans, Jews, Muslims, gays and even red-headed Irishmen and telling councilors that if the town doesn't revoke the declaration within 30 days, "we might have a problem."

Lisa Williams transcribes his rant, in which he expresses concern that his grandchildren will be forced to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Taco Bell and states, among other things:

... Homophobia is not a crime. I consider it a virtue, because that point of view, I think is the right one. I don't think I should be guilty of hate speech because I hold that view. ...

Paul Day, who attended the council meeting, reports that town councilors sat stunned, and in some cases open mouthed, as Filicchia piled screed atop screed. Day then describes Filicchia in some Santorum-like terms and concludes:

... He'll smile and walk away because, after all, I have the right to say what I want and not be called on it.

Right, Ralph?