Freedom of speech

[luckytxn 2,265]

The saying of racial hate filled words is a right. The coming near and screaming them in a face is a threat and should be dealt with accordingly. Now if we start saying that no one can say a derogatory word or racial things because it will hurt some feelings then arrest people then we are in trouble. Next it will be said that you can't say many things. This is getting into thought control now. Trust me on this. If we start saying that some words are an arrest able offense it will not stop and there will be many groups that will advocate additions. Don't like the constitution in this country then it is a simple problem to solve.

[Captain Oates 911]

The saying of racial hate filled words is a right. The coming near and screaming them in a face is a threat and should be dealt with accordingly. Now if we start saying that no one can say a derogatory word or racial things because it will hurt some feelings then arrest people then we are in trouble. Next it will be said that you can't say many things. This is getting into thought control now. Trust me on this. If we start saying that some words are an arrest able offense it will not stop and there will be many groups that will advocate additions. Don't like the constitution in this country then it is a simple problem to solve.

I asked another poster if he thought that people in Europe (say UK, Germany, France, Sweden)

were people who felt their free speech had been taken away

The fact is they don't and they welcome the curbs on hate speech.

As far as you telling me to get out of the US if I don't like the current law, I have some terrible news for you. I will be a citizen in 3 months and I am going to be politically active with all the many Americans who think like me and are against people who think that hate speech and hateful berating of dead US soldier's families is ok.

Those who like hate speech/racism/violence/xenophobia and are anti immigrant and anti new ideas are dinosaurs and on the way out. They are the skinhead section of American society and use the constitution and pervert it to their cause.

Perhaps they should leave - but who would have them ?

[Gemmie 142]

I agree that hate speech, especially as you described with yelling at a 7 year old girl or turning up at a soldier's funeral is awful. I also heard how people stand outside abortion clinics so they can have a go at the women as they enter/leave about what an evil sin they've committed.

Having said that, I do remember how Muslims in the UK were attending the memorial for fallen soldiers earlier this year to protest against war. They were only stopped by the police when the British rallied up and said they would attack them.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I asked another poster if he thought that people in Europe (say UK, Germany, France, Sweden)

were people who felt their free speech had been taken away

The fact is they don't and they welcome the curbs on hate speech.

As far as you telling me to get out of the US if I don't like the current law, I have some terrible news for you. I will be a citizen in 3 months and I am going to be politically active with all the many Americans who think like me and are against people who think that hate speech and hateful berating of dead US soldier's families is ok.

Those who like hate speech/racism/violence/xenophobia and are anti immigrant and anti new ideas are dinosaurs and on the way out. They are the skinhead section of American society and use the constitution and pervert it to their cause.

Perhaps they should leave - but who would have them ?

Hate speech is a right, whether you like it or not.

As I said earlier, you have a right to offend just as much as you have to be offended, but you have no right not to be offended. You cannot control thought. It goes completely against human nature.

[Captain Oates 911]

Hate speech is a right, whether you like it or not.

As I said earlier, you have a right to offend just as much as you have to be offended, but you have no right not to be offended. You cannot control thought. It goes completely against human nature.

Nobody is trying to control thought. Nobody is talking about not offending anyone. You simply have not grasped the ideas or the distinctions that make hate speech unacceptable.

Hate speech is a right in the US right now and I don't like it. It will not remain so any more than carrying an assault rifle in time square remained so. Things will change and the haters are on the run and will be the first to turn coat when they see themselves in the minority.

The remedy for people who don't like it is to campaign against it - they should not be told to get out of the country. The country would still have slaves and burn witches if that's the way it worked.

Edited August 18, 2010 by saywhat

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Nobody is trying to control thought. Nobody is talking about not offending anyone. You simply have not grasped the ideas or the distinctions that make hate speech unacceptable.

Hate speech is a right in the US right now and I don't like it. It will not remain so any more than carrying an assault rifle in time square remained so. Things will change and the haters are on the run and will be the first to turn coat when they see themselves in the minority.

The remedy for people who don't like it is to campaign against it - they should not be told to get out of the country. The country would still have slaves and burn witches if that's the way it worked.

There is nothing wrong with hate speech.

You can't turn society into some perfect place to be. It'll never work.

The moment you start arresting people for things they say, is the moemnt you turn down a VERY dangerous road that no one wants to go down.

There's a huge difference in "hate speech" and threatening speech. That is where the difference is and where it should remain.

[Captain Oates 911]

There is nothing wrong with hate speech.

You can't turn society into some perfect place to be. It'll never work.

The moment you start arresting people for things they say, is the moemnt you turn down a VERY dangerous road that no one wants to go down.

There's a huge difference in "hate speech" and threatening speech. That is where the difference is and where it should remain.

So what is your comment on the countries of Europe where such speech is illegal ?

Do you see the citizens of these countries as being in chains now ? How can they pusue happiness without the American 1st amendment rights in place ?

We already have the example of what will happen in Germany- France -Sweden - Ireland etc etc

Is life so terrible now for the citizens of those countries ?

Pehaps we should liberate them and give them back the right to shout 'dirty <insert race>' at people in the street ?

We don't need to speculate about the consequences of banning it - we have the consequences right now in Europe

Does it look better or worse over there ?

British soldiers families don't have god nuts screaming filth at them during their son's funerals - are they really missing out by not having that ?

ps the last person I asked that of said he didn't know as he had never been anywhere and didn't have a passport

Edited August 18, 2010 by saywhat

[SMR 368]

I think the people on here who say they would ignore someone screaming insults in the face of their 7 year old daughter because it's free speech, are not telling the truth.

Well, you can think what you want. The fact is that it has happened. It's true that it wasn't my child. But I've seen parents turn the other cheek and I could do the same. If someone disagrees with you on that level, it isn't worth worrying about what they say or think.

The people on here who say they would shrug off crazies screaming insults at their dead son while they were burying him are not telling the truth either. It's because there are inadequate laws in this area that they WOULD resort to violence. I know I would.

Creating a law to outlaw something versus using violence to prevent it is morally a distinction without a difference in this case. Laws of a country are simply a statement of the things that the government has chosen to enforce with violence (or the threat of it in situations where such is sufficient). While you may act differently in order to avoid governmental violence towards yourself, either you believe that hate speech warrants a violent reprisal or you don't. That means you support laws against it and would take violent action personally if the conditions were right and you didn't fear reprisal or you don't support laws or violence against it until the words become actions or indicate the person is intending to take action. You clearly fit into the first group.

But you are assuming a lot if you think that a person who doesn't believe governmental violence is warranted would take such an action personally.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I don't know if this has already been said, but you will not be arrested in the UK for standing at the side of the road and shouting "you are a fat #######". Do you know how many people I've seen that have public arguments or say these kind of things? I couldn't even count. If anything, you almost need to commit an act of violence to get arrested for anything.

First of all, there are different social rules between the countries. Americans are extremely polite and friendly, while Brits are blunt and generally act how they feel. How people interact is vastly different, and that includes friends or acquaintances using derogatory terms towards each other. Secondly, I think it's the opposite as you describe. I can say pretty much anything in the UK without worrying what people will think of me, but I don't feel that in the US. I don't mean racist terms because I wouldn't even want to say things like that anyway. But bad language, political opinions, banter etc is more prone in British streets, in my opinion. I believe freedom of speech is more alive in the UK.

I agree.

[Captain Oates 911]

anti hate laws are meant to prevent violence

People who countenance hate speech are acceptive of the inevitable violence that will come from one party or the other

Free hate speech doesn't prevent the murder of abortion doctors, it incites it.

Nobody will tell me whether the level of free speech in Australia - Sweden - England - Germany - France is at such a low level that living there would be intolerable for an American due to that factor alone.

Of course it wouldn't

The US is stuck in 1776 with the ideas and values of 1776 and it can't claw it's way out and move forward.

[SMR 368]

anti hate laws are meant to prevent violence

People who countenance hate speech are acceptive of the inevitable violence that will come from one party or the other

Free hate speech doesn't prevent the murder of abortion doctors, it incites it.

Nobody will tell me whether the level of free speech in Australia - Sweden - England - Germany - France is at such a low level that living there would be intolerable for an American due to that factor alone.

Of course it wouldn't

The US is stuck in 1776 with the ideas and values of 1776 and it can't claw it's way out and move forward.

Not all change is progress.

[BobandXiaomei 14]

There is nothing wrong with hate speech.

You can't turn society into some perfect place to be. It'll never work.

The moment you start arresting people for things they say, is the moemnt you turn down a VERY dangerous road that no one wants to go down.

There's a huge difference in "hate speech" and threatening speech. That is where the difference is and where it should remain.

There is something wrong if violent action results from it "inciting a riot". The old example of yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater is commonly used that would result in the Speaker being arrested.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yes, they should be allowed to yell and scream. If the impede movement in a public area or otherwise infringe on their rights, then yes arrest them. But you have no right to make sure you never hear the f word or the n word.

If they are disturbing the peace they can and should be put where they belong, too- in lockup with a couple of guys of the race they are racist to.

[HAL 9000 96]

Racism and hate are violent by history and by the human behavior they promote. Someone that ascribes null-value to these concepts is either a racist himself or mentally incompetent.

[Captain Oates 911]

Not all change is progress.

This list must really sadden you>>

The National Health Service 1948

The Emancipation of blacks in the US

Votes for women

Votes for people who don't own property

Disabled access ways

The banning of domestic violence

Banning of dog fighting

etc, etc etc it's a gradually emerging kinder world and it's unstoppable and the hatemongers are swimming up stream and will be bitter losers for the rest of their lives.

Heck, Catalonia has just banned bull fighting !

I know there are millions of Americans who deplore changes like this and wish it was 1859 or even 1783. The hate speech supporters are part of this group.