Seen the Light PingFReepMail me if you want on, or off this low-volume Ping list.
Posted on 06/28/2006 5:53:49 AM PDT by SmithL
What do the above examples have in common? They are the logical outgrowth of a dangerous trend sweeping the Western world: the criminalization and censorship of speech.
Outright censorship and draconian speech codes have long been a staple of Third World authoritarian regimes. But Western democracies and in particular the United States (where the First Amendment is supposed to reign supreme) have always prided themselves on protecting free speech. Yet because of the creeping reach of political correctness, one can now be put in prison, lose a job, be kicked out of school or be otherwise censored simply for uttering an unpopular opinion.
It's called hate speech. If there ever were a more Orwellian concept, it would be difficult to find. For much like the concept of "thought crimes" in George Orwell's novel "1984," hate crimes and hate speech suppose intent on the part of the "perpetrator" that may or may not have any basis
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Intersting this is in sfgate...
But we need to be mindful that the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to private institutions, such as businesses and private schools (although those can be eceonomically influenced).
The price of living in a free society is that one has to be tough enough to take whatever words come one's way. Accommodating the infantile crybaby Left is rapidly destroying the very thing that set America apart from the monarchies of Europe int he first place.
Funny, isn't it, the NYTs has the right to print secrets harmful to the war effort but a kid on a college campus can't advertise the work of a conservative.
Something otta wack here?
There needs to be an effort to have the Quoran (Koran) declared as HATE SPEECH. What it says about "infidels" and what it calls for is clearly HATE SPEECH.
OUTLAW ISLAM!
Some of these noted actions were on foreign soil and one was actually from some sort of government transit worker. I do believe he should be covered by the constitution. That whole government shall make no law ...
Tell your boss you think he's a dictatorial jackass and you'll learn "how so."
You're joking, right?
speech becomes a crime when leftist take control and instill their tyranny in the name of fairness.
I have long been concerned about "hate" crimes and hate speech. The idea behind these laws is the same as the oft-misused concept of equal access. When the government begins to legislate the behavior of individuals in relationship to their thoughts, you go down a slippery slope that leads to totalitarianism. Who decides what is hate speech? Who decides what the supposed criminal is thinking when committing the crime? Where is the line drawn between hate speech and not? All of these questions are the ones that distinguish between a society of laws and a society controlled by the whims of bureaucrats.
No one is in favor of prejudiced behavior, but, using the heavy hand of government is the wrong way to eliminate this kind of behavior. We have had more success in eliminating bigotry by educating our citizenry than we ever had by using law to try to achieve the same results.
The 1st Amendment applies to the US Congress only.
Reminds me of a story from a several years ago here in DC. A white city official was having a meeting with a number of city workers(who were mostly black) and he used the word "niggardly" in reference to some kind of money issue. He was summarily fired....even though the word "niggardly" has nothing to do with black folk. Nothing. This was subsequently pointed out in a newspaper article, but the gentlemen still did not get his job back.
That's how I recall it. But that's DC for you. What a bunch of pinheads.
A story published here yesterday indicates that DC now has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the nation. Gee, what a surprise.
That is a great line.
That is political correctness, the deliberate criminalization of conservative thought.
I will step back and say that the Holocaust denial is not conservative thought, or even FACTUALLY correct.
couldnt have said it better myself.
"CONGRESS shall make no law . . . ."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.