07-05-2005, 09:51 AM
Aloha All.
I must say that, although everyone has a right to their own viewpoint, they do not, similarly, have the right to call names, use offensive language, attack others who challenge their behavior and language and otherwise behave in ways that are highly offensive to others. More importantly, a person who behaves this way trammels on the rights of others. Hate crimes against gays begin with nasty language. Let's put this in another context: what if it was African Americans who were attacked on this page? What would you say then? Would you also defend the 'right' of the racist to use the N word and trumpet his/her hatred of blacks? While free speech is a right, I do not believe that it was ever meant to protect hate and bigotry--it's use is for political dissent, freedom of artistic expression, religious expression, and so on. When those who defend their right to attack others also turn on and attack those who disagree with them--thereby attempting to stifle open discussion and the opinions of others--then I know that they are not proponents of free speech, but of control and aggression. This is also known as being a bully. I have seen this behavior too often to approve of it under any guise. Let's be very clear here: it is unacceptable to use hateful language, to attack others-- especially on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation and that's the law of our land. An even higher law is that of God: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This free speech argument is a slippery slope, do not even stand near the edge.
The only appropriate response from someone who has misspoken in such an excessive way is, "I'm sorry" not a rant about 'rights' and how horrible it is to be p.c. That's like saying, "I am burdened by having to show respect to other humans."
Don't condone hate or pretend that it has the right to hide behind the Constitution. It is just wrong.
april
I must say that, although everyone has a right to their own viewpoint, they do not, similarly, have the right to call names, use offensive language, attack others who challenge their behavior and language and otherwise behave in ways that are highly offensive to others. More importantly, a person who behaves this way trammels on the rights of others. Hate crimes against gays begin with nasty language. Let's put this in another context: what if it was African Americans who were attacked on this page? What would you say then? Would you also defend the 'right' of the racist to use the N word and trumpet his/her hatred of blacks? While free speech is a right, I do not believe that it was ever meant to protect hate and bigotry--it's use is for political dissent, freedom of artistic expression, religious expression, and so on. When those who defend their right to attack others also turn on and attack those who disagree with them--thereby attempting to stifle open discussion and the opinions of others--then I know that they are not proponents of free speech, but of control and aggression. This is also known as being a bully. I have seen this behavior too often to approve of it under any guise. Let's be very clear here: it is unacceptable to use hateful language, to attack others-- especially on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation and that's the law of our land. An even higher law is that of God: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This free speech argument is a slippery slope, do not even stand near the edge.
The only appropriate response from someone who has misspoken in such an excessive way is, "I'm sorry" not a rant about 'rights' and how horrible it is to be p.c. That's like saying, "I am burdened by having to show respect to other humans."
Don't condone hate or pretend that it has the right to hide behind the Constitution. It is just wrong.
april
april