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GrhmLz · 04-30-2004, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AirBear:
<STRONG>GrhmLz, I'm interested to learn more about your standing on this issue, so please answer this question:

Would you disagree with a public school disallowing parts of a student's speech against interracial marriage, african-americans, jews, etc if done in an open forum (like the one described in the Catholic girl's case)?</STRONG>

Are you sure that you are really interested in learning about how I stand on this issue or is this just a question intended to trap me somehow?

Well, in either case, I will answer this the best that I can for you. Personally, I believe that Hate/Crime legislation does play a beneficial role because there are people who will cross the line from "free speech" to violence. Therefore, if homosexuals are at high risk, they should be protected by this law just like any other group that needs protection from physical harm.

Now, you asked about free speech regarding issues such as African Americans, Interracial Marriage, Jews, etc...at an open forum!

There are many factors that would play into this. First off, I advocate free speech. Would I advocate free speech at an open forum regarding these issues? Yes. Does this mean that I would agree with everything a speaker had to say? No. Is it possible that I could be completely revolted by a speaker's comments or suggestions? Absolutely. And if I was I would walk out of the open forum and refuse to listen. I would not emphasize that the speaker's right to free speech should be "jeopordized" because I feel disgusted. Because the moment this person's free speech is placed in jeopardy, that means that anybody's can be.

If I had attended this open forum, and someone started ranting on about killing all African Americans, Jews, and Homosexuals I would get up and not listen to the lecture because this speech would be promoting violence.

I can give you an example that occured one year in my state. In one of the cities, the KKK came and the police authorities had to come out to protect them because they were holding some type of forum where they would be engaging in free speech. Obviously, this stirred up controversy. But even if you and I detest what they stand for they still have their free speech rights. They are able to promote what they stand for. Now, whether or not they ever crossed any lines that would justify Hate/Crime speech is beyond me?

The problem that I have with hate-speech legislation is that not only does it begin to restrict free-speech, this legislation gets abused. It protects certain classes of people from every little "utterance" while other unprotected classes of people are free game to be the victims of all the hate speech there is.

However, it is important to remember that in the case of the Catholic girl, the forum's topic dealt with the topic of religion and homosexuality. This girl was being denied her "free-exercise right" to express her religion and its teachings. And the Roman Catholic religion views homosexuality as a sinful lifestyle.