posted on December 9, 2000 12:25:44 PM
The United States' first amendment guarantees the right to free speech. In fact, our Supreme Court has supported that right even for hate groups such as the KKK and the New Aryan Nation.
I just saw a documentary on the History Channel which delved into the inner workings of the New Aryan Nation. While viewing all the swastikas and listening to the hate rhetoric, I remembered that these activities are banned in Germany, Austria, and France. You can't even use a swastika on a model airplane or tank of the Nazi era.
While I believe in the right of free speech and worry about the dangers of limiting it, should the right be extended to what are regularly described as "hate groups", whatever their affiliaton?
posted on December 9, 2000 12:45:40 PM
Criminal laws are designed to proscribe activities generally accepted as abhorrent to society. Members of "hate groups", like everyone else, must obey these laws or face penalties for their actions. We, as a society, can make laws about anything we wish.
The constitution, among other things, is designed to protect people from bad laws.
I'm in favor of enforcing existing laws that apply to "hate group" activities. I am opposed to denying constitutional protections to anyone.
posted on December 9, 2000 02:24:44 PM
The world is opening up thru the web. Some see this as a danger because the hate mongers can gather here anonymously and preach their hate loudly. Others see it as a wonderful thing because people can speak loudly against it all over the web. I don't want those that speak loudly against hate to be silenced, so I think those that speak for it should have their say as well.
Ya know why? Because who knows who will be in office as time goes on, or enven what shape our government will take, how the country will turn, how thoughts will change as the world becomes smaller and more beliefs and cultures meld and separate.
Christianity for instance might one day be considered out of line because of how some christians act or because of how the old testament can be looked at. Christians could very possibly be considered a hate group.
Let's look at it from an outsider view in the year 2050 when the predominant religion could be hinuism, buddism, wiccan, with many many followers of satan churches, and who knows what kind of mind set.
We should protect what we cannot stand today in order to be able to protect what might not be stood tomorrow.
I know I typed that all wrong, I hope what I mean to say comes thru.
posted on December 9, 2000 05:15:40 PM
While most of us find the actions and opinions of such groups to be unthinkable, we must protect their right to free speech. If we let those types of groups be censored, we put our own freedom of speech at risk. Silencing opinions, even those that are fanatical, is not the way to protect ourselves.
I didn't say that very well either, I seem to be at a loss of good words tonight.
