Jim Bernstein wrote: HATE SPEECH??? You cannot point to a single instance of my using hate speech in this forum or any other - or in my private life for that matter - because I have never, ever said or done anything that could be characterized as hate speech!!!!
Well, almost. I have publicly called Saddam Hussein a thug, the KKK a gang of hoodlums and the "essence of evil", and I did call a Holocaust denier a moron - several times actually. Bill Cullen responds: >From what I read, “hate speech” laws are being struck down across the nation because it limits freedom of speech (1). One website I read said it well (2): "Proponents of "hate speech" legislation believe that such laws will increase tolerance in our society and reduce intergroup conflict. It is a strange kind of tolerance that tries to shut down any dissenting views, and "hate speech" laws may well have the opposite effect. They are likely to create resentment if people do not believe they can express their opinion because it may be deemed to be "hate speech". Too often society shuts down people outside the mainstream by attacking the individual and not the idea. I am ok with calling IDEAS bad or evil. I am never ok with calling people "morons", "thugs" or "evil" simply because you don't agree with them. It seems to me that folk in Mpls are particularly quick to squash voices they disagree with. Why is that? And why would we elect officials who personally attack those who have different viewpoints? The next viewpoint they squash might be yours. Regards, Bill Cullen. Whittier (1) http://gsulaw.gsu.edu/lawand/papers/su96/hornsby.htm (2) http://www.maxim.org.nz/ri/hatespeech.html -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.12 - Release Date: 1/14/2005 REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
