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Free Speech Vs. Hate Speech
Posted by Raven on June 12th, 2008
Two articles of interest here. One points out how the US is one of the “few” developed nations in the world that doesn’t ban “hate speech”- because it is protected under the First Amendment (as all speech should be.)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A couple of years ago, a Canadian magazine published an article arguing that the rise of Islam threatened Western values. The article’s tone was mocking and biting, but it said nothing that conservative magazines and blogs in the United States do not say every day without fear of legal reprisal.
[...]
Two members of the Canadian Islamic Congress say the magazine, Maclean’s, Canada’s leading newsweekly, violated a provincial hate speech law by stirring up hatred against Muslims. They say the magazine should be forbidden from saying similar things, forced to publish a rebuttal and made to compensate Muslims for injuring their “dignity, feelings and self respect.”
[...]
In the United States, that debate has been settled. Under the First Amendment, newspapers and magazines can say what they like about minority groups and religions — even false, provocative or hateful things — without legal consequence.
[...]
Canada, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and India all have laws or have signed international conventions banning hate speech. Israel and France forbid the sale of Nazi items like swastikas and flags. It is a crime to deny the Holocaust in Canada, Germany and France.
Well, “hate speech” is subjective. What offends me might not offend others. I’ve been called all sorts of names; I’ve been included in groups that I am not a member of (that Bible thumping redneck 40 something woman who is oppressed and dumb…) I have some thick skin and most things don’t bother me. And for the few that do, I IGNORE IT. As for stirring up hatred: I call BS. Groups like Muslims do enough to stir up the very hatred coming their way with their own actions- they don’t need to point fingers at anyone else except themselves. Pot meets kettle.
The second article shows an example of what most liberals and the like consider to be free speech- even though it clearly shows otherwise. I have no issue with this school- so long as tax payers aren’t footing the bill.
McLEAN, Va. -Textbooks at a private Islamic school in northern Virginia teach students that it is permissible for Muslims to kill adulterers and converts from Islam, according to a federal investigation released Wednesday.
Other passages in the school’s textbooks state that “the Jews conspired against Islam and its people” and that Muslims are permitted to take the lives and property of those deemed “polytheists.”
The passages were found in selected textbooks used during the 2007-08 school year by the Islamic Saudi Academy, which teaches 900 students in grades K-12 at two campuses in Alexandria and Fairfax and receives much of its funding from the Saudi government.
Now some people will be really upset with this. It is a form of Islamification. It is wrong and dangerous and those who attend this so called school should be monitored by the government- watched forever as they are potential terrorists. But they won’t be. Because of free speech. Which is guaranteed by our Constitution and should always be free of guidelines, perimeters and exclusions. Human beings are not robots; we’re not perfect; we have feelings and emotions which we cannot always keep to ourselves. No one should be punished for expressing how they feel or what they think.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:28 am
Did you realize the U.S. ranks 62nd in literacy Raven? Freedom of speech? Over half can’t even read, write nor comprehend (public schools in inner city blue states of socialism)!
June 12th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Ahhh yes, free speech. I wonder how Don Imus is enjoying the fruits of free speech these days?
Free speech is only selectively allowed in this nation. Well, that’s not entirely true. It’s allowed, if you don’t value your career, reputation, freedom, etc.
I will, however, rejoice in the fact that we are still head and shoulders above the “progressive” nations.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Free speech has consequences; when we blabber on without thinking first, we can OFFEND people and workplaces and schools and similar venues can and do hold people to account. Free speech is curbed at work…we lose many freedoms there. It’s not right, but then again people should be civil in their debate and words.
Free speech was put into the Constitution to allow people to speak up against their government. It’s been twisted into every aspect of life now. The worse part of it is the Porn Industry’s abuse of it. Good Gawd. That’s a perfect example of free speech guarantees gone wild, if one asks me.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Yes…I know this. Having a degree doesn’t make a person any more valuable though, when it comes to speaking their mind. I know a lot of people without HS diploma’s who are wiser and smarter than others with Masters’ degrees in who knows what.