...The First Amendment and Hate Speech Unfortunately there are plenty of people out there that still hang dearly to their hate. The First Amendment is a crucial component of our basic human rights in America and there will always be those that abuse these rights. Hate is a part of human nature that some say is simply another facet of love. I do believe that these people have the right to hate speech as long as it does not interfere with others around them. It is the same concept as public disturbance or any laws that protect you when you are out in public doing what you usually do on a day to day basis. Hate speech is just another form of speech. Any and all power that it has over you is power that you inherently grant it. Since it is a form of speech it is protected under our First Amendment. If the person spewing this garbage is doing so among like-minded people, on the internet, or is otherwise leaving alone the targeted groups then it is perfectly legal. Everybody makes a big deal and gets upset every last time something “unacceptable” or out of the “norm” is said. Hate speech can be prosecuted if it turns into more than that. If the people making hate speeches seek out and harass individuals with their words and or actions then it becomes something far uglier and more clear cut in prosecution terms. When it comes down to it everyone is free to do as they wish in a public space as long as it does not violate any of our laws or human rights. If the people around do not...
Words: 623 - Pages: 3
...Hate Speech Tricia Bilbrey Grand Canyon University PHI 305 September 18, 2011 Hate Speech The studied article reviews several cases where hate speech or “fighting words” were used against minorities. The views of 1st Amendment supporters and those opposed to hate speech were compared. The question still remains: Should hate speech be protected by the US Constitution? The number of hate groups in America today has reached over the thousand marks. That is an increase of 7.5% since 2010. ("CNN U.S.," 2011) This statistic was mind-blowing for me. Maybe it’s because I didn’t want to believe it was true. In the article it is mentioned that protecting this form of free speech would limit government control. Supporters of the 1st Amendment feel that we should combat this issue with groups that oppose hate speech. They fear that if the government is allowed to limit our speech, then we are allowing the government to limit our opinions. There are many valid claims stated in this article supporting the ban of hate speech in the US. Some say that hate speech promotes fear, threats and violence in the lives of minorities. Others agree that protecting this form of free speech encourages inequality and segregation. Does the use of speaking with hatred persuade Americans to get their point across using vulgar and degrading, sometimes even forceful words? I feel that it does all of these things and more. Emotions are at high peaks during a demonstration that comes to...
Words: 438 - Pages: 2
...Hate speech is highly prevalent in American culture, especially in our youth today. I believe this to be because of the desensitization of those that grew up during the 90’s and the fact that the concept of words are always changing. For example, I recall many kids using the word “gay” and the more derogatory version of it to signify that something is foolish or uninteresting. This constant misuse of the word desensitized many to the word and as the meaning of the word changed and that it was used in more literal contexts, as well, resulted in the abuse of the word. I do not perceive many situations that allow hate speech to flourish but I can see some immensely rare circumstances such as in the context of war on foreign soil. The textbook...
Words: 431 - Pages: 2
...Hate speech is nothing new to American universities. It is defined as language that slanders a particular group based on race, color, gender, nationality, as well as other characteristics. Though colleges try to combat hate speech with speech codes, these codes are never upheld in court, and as a result the victims are left to suffer. Sadly, most victims are minorities who have been historically oppressed, such as African Americans and women. In order to help the minorities targeted by hate speech on college campuses, the sufferers must be empowered to speak out through the creation of a national organization and eventually the Supreme Court must rule that the freedom of speech does not include hate speech. An increase of hate speech on college...
Words: 1463 - Pages: 6
...Significant Legal Decisions Involving Hate Speech in America What exactly is Hate Speech? There are many different variations to this answer. According to dictionary.com, it is “speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation” (“hate speech”). Anthony Lewis’ description of hate speech focuses more on the people it aims at: “Hate speech, it is called: virulent attack on Jews, blacks, Muslims, homosexuals, or members of any other group. It is pure hatred, not based on any wrong done by an individual” (157) Throughout history, many cases involving hate speech have been brought to court; each of them differ in their own ways and each brought a significant change to our Constitution. Our country prides itself in having freedom for all, and that includes freedom of speech. But when does freedom of speech cross the line? Many court decisions tried to come up with a solid answer, but there may not ever be a successful way to categorize hate speech. All of the cases covered here played a large part in transforming what the First Amendment covers. America started to recognize the significance of hate speech beginning in 1940, and policies began to form to protect offensive speech. At this point in history, hate speech was better known as “racial and religious propaganda” (Walker 62). The Holocaust was a major turning point for America, because we realized the destruction that it caused, and the government wanted to make sure nothing...
Words: 2890 - Pages: 12
...Question 1: How would you define hate speech? After reading through different websites such as americanbar.org and watching the hate.com video, I would define hate speech as something that offends, verbally insults, or threatens different groups of people. These different groups of people can be anything that is a got topic or just a group of people someone doesn’t like. For example, it could include gender, race, demographics, sexual orientation, or even religion. People use hurtful words to bash the people from different groups. Question 6: Would you advocate special restrictions on making hate-related material available to children via the Internet? (If so, what would you propose?) Yes, there should be restrictions regarding hate speech...
Words: 414 - Pages: 2
...Hate Speech I myself believe every individual has a born right to free speech, though if exercised to purposely hinder a person (Hate Speech) it should not be upheld by law. There is no true reason to use hateful and demeaning words towards another, in the end a solution will never come of it. For if you resort to using hateful speech you have already defeated your purpose of speaking. I feel this quote by Socrates is an essential component needed to get my point across. “When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.” The only thing vulgar words do is add more fuel to an already burning flame. If you perceive the way a person says, thinks, or does is not shown to be right or reasonable, you may respectfully state your opinion to them and give a reason as to why you support what you believe. You may even convince them of your side, whereas if you instead decided to use hateful words that outcome would not have occurred. Almost certainly it would have escalated the problems and could have even resulted in physical violence. Most people unconsciously allow their ego to enslave them into a locked unwavering perspective....
Words: 520 - Pages: 3
...The majority of students attending Sam Houston State University are familiar with the hate preacher, he stands in the mall area and condemning people to hell. The First Amendment protects the preacher allowing him the freedom of speech. He only shows up to campus about once a month and students stand around amused by his yelling and ranting until they grow bored and walk away. But imagine if instead this was a daily occurrence and its multiple people verbally harassing an individual based on nothing more than their race, gender, or sexual preference; three factors about a person that cannot be changed. Charles R. Lawrence III appropriately calls for regulation on racist speech, as it is becoming a serious issue on college campuses and its effects on victims. One recent incident of racist speech happened in March of this year at Oklahoma University. A posting of a video of one of the university fraternities, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, showing the fraternity on a bus chanting racial slurs targeting blacks. The song included lynching and that the allowance of blacks in the fraternity’s chapter would never happen. The University President...
Words: 566 - Pages: 3
...Freedom of expression; something that many people take for granted in the United States. This meaning, hate speech and free speech needs to be protected because it is useful in many cases. For many years, freedom of speech and hate speech has been in a great debate whether over if it should stay protected or should it not by the first amendment. Hate speech is very good in many ways, but people take advantage of it. Hate speech should still be protected either way no matter what the circumstances are. Political hate speech is the type that is most strongly protected by the first amendment for over years. Hate speech is important because its a tool that everyone uses every day without knowing. This is important because in many other countries...
Words: 489 - Pages: 2
...“Banning Social Media Won’t Stop Hate Speech,” examines how preventative and regulatory measures from media companies triumph as the solution to decreasing the spread of hate speech rather than the ban of the platform itself. The article first begins by describing an incident in Sra Lanka in which Buddhist chauvinist group congregated near an area where a Sinhalese Buddhist truck driver was killed in a road-rage accident. Their meeting was additionally followed by looting, arson, and attacks on mosques and on businesses operated by Muslims. In an attempt to deplete the amount of anti-Muslim propaganda and disinformation in the media, the Sri Lankan government enforced a temporary...
Words: 643 - Pages: 3
...equality. It is set in Los Angeles, it is about social and cultural stereotypes, race, and the conflict that often ensues as a result. The movie is presented in the conflict perspective which according to Richard T. Schaefer (2009) "assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between groups over power including housing, money, access to services and political representation". Crash uses tension to the story line of each character forcing them into positions of conflict as well as dependence, and emphasizes the status of equality in America. In order to progress to a more equal society it is essential like Americans presented in the movie Crash, especially those most often seen in modern society such as stereotyping, hate crimes, etc… Schaefer defines stereotypes as "unreliable generalizations about all members of a group shows a car crash involving two police detectives and an Asian woman. You can see from the beginning of the movie that the stereotyping begins immediately when the Asian woman tells the police officer that is writing the traffic report that "Mexicans don’t know how to drive. She brakes too fast!" (Haggis, 2005) A verbal struggle ensues between the Latina police detective, who is driving and the Asian woman. RIA mocks the lady about her incorrect pronunciation of the word brake. The Asian woman demonstrates that in her mind the stereotypical Latina is a Mexican who cannot drive. In another example of stereotyping, the District Attorney's...
Words: 2857 - Pages: 12
...個案 簡介 各國制定反歧視法例和措施的過程不是沒有爭論的。事實上,因為每個國家內部都存在不同意見,有關的爭論有時會通過訴訟交給法庭裁決,有時會交給負責監察法例的執行的機關調停。法庭和執行機關會根據它們對法例的解釋作出裁決和提出它們的看法。這些看法不但反映了它們如何理解一個社會追求實現的價值,同時可以看到一個多元化的社會如何通過司法機制調停不同的觀點和建立共識。 以下個案中有向法庭提出訴訟的涉及性傾向歧視的個案,也有反歧視法例執行機構的調停個案。 □ 法國最高上訴法院:P...對聖碧岳十世修會 (1991) □ 聯合國人權委員會:杜寧對澳洲(1994) □ 南非憲法法庭:全國同志平等聯盟對司法部長 (1998) □ 歐洲人權法庭:盧思提-比努恩和貝克特對大英聯合王國 (1999) □ 澳洲人權及平等機會委員會:格列芬對天主教教育辦事處 (1998) □ 歐洲人權法庭:卡爾內爾對奧地利 (2003) □ 瑞典最高法院:檢查總長辦事處對格連 (2003) 法國最高上訴法院:P...對聖碧岳十世修會 (1991) Social Chamber of the Court of Cessation: P...v. Association Fraternite Saint-Pie X (1991) 法國一名受僱打理教堂的同性戀者P…遭僱用他的修會「聖碧岳十世修會」以其性傾向為理由,將其解僱。1991年法國的最高上訴法院作出裁決,指該修會違反了僱傭合約。根據法庭的裁決,指修會以僱員的性傾向不符合天主教傳統作為解僱他的理由是不合法的。但法庭捕充指出,如果一名僱員的「道德」對一家公司造成明顯的破壞,解僱就不會被判決為錯誤的舉動。 換句話說,最高上訴法院認為,解僱是否合法,要看僱主是否能夠證明他「考慮過該名僱員的職責和公司的目的」,並能夠證明「僱員的行為對公司構成可以說明的明顯破壞」。 巴黎上訴法院考慮過最高上訴法院的判詞後,於1992年就此案再作出裁決,指此案的僱主因為該僱員的同性戀傾向和他作為愛滋病帶菌者的身份將他解僱,是基於一個只跟該僱員私人生活有關的原因將其解僱。這不足以構成一個真正的和嚴重的終止僱傭合約的理由。由於該名僱員的跟其性傾向有關的行為都是在機構以外進行的,所以屬於他可以自由行使權利的範圍。法庭認為,除非可以證明這些行為在該機構內造成可以說明的明顯破壞,否則解僱就是不合理的。同時,由於法庭相信該僱員真心信奉天主教信仰,因此不認為他在機構內造成了破壞。 聯合國人權委員會:杜寧對澳洲 (1994) United Nations Human Rights Committee: Toonen v. Australia (1994) 1991年澳洲塔斯曼尼亞(Tasmania)上議院否決廢除禁止同性性行為的法例。由於當時澳洲的聯邦政府沒有任何相關的法例可以凌駕塔斯曼尼亞這條例,塔斯曼尼亞的同志團體遂向「聯合國人權委員會」(United Nations Human Rights Committee) 投訴。投訴的同志團體代表杜寧 (Toonen) 指出,塔斯曼尼亞的法例違反了「公民權利及政治權利國際公約」中保障個人私生活不受侵犯的權利(公約第17條)和締約國有責任確保所有人享有公約訂明的權利的條款(公約第2.1條)。杜寧的投訴指塔斯曼尼亞的法例同時違反了公約中保障法律面前人人平等的條款(公...
Words: 762 - Pages: 4
...“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” – Matthew 6:24. Yes, it’s true! We cannot serve two things at once and we must choose only one of them. But in choosing we must know what is right. They say “money makes the world go round.” But I say that God makes the world go rounder. It’s not only on the money our life revolving but it’s on our fidelity to God. Yes, we all need money and being rich with it can let us feel contented because we can buy new clothes, house and lot, lavish cars, branded shoes and many more that money can buy. It is used also to become popular and to become a powerful person. We may also think that money can solve all of our dilemmas but it may not. Little by little, money poisons our mind and blinds our eyes by the time we became servant of it. Some preferred to serve money and were frighten of losing them so they will do anything to have it. There is a point that some will do ruthless things or kill for a bunch of money. It may also cause a huge dispute between us, people. If we are watching news or other documented article, we can watch or read some arguments between people filling a case in court due to money. And even though the people concerned are a family member, some don’t care for what they care is for their money. Then tell me, should we worship money? But then if we worship or serve God, we cannot get difficulties...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
...R24 Culture of Hate: Who Are We? Summary Lee Harvey, the director of the documentary film Culture of Hate: Who Are We? (2002), addresses the topic of racism. She reveals the hidden world of white power youths in Lakeside and discusses the causes and effects of white power movement in the community of Lakeside. In the beginning of the film, Harvey shows the viewers the murder incident of a Mexican migrant worker whose body was found in a drainage ditch in Lakeside, CA. In the drainage ditch, the walls were surfaced with swastikas and other racist symbols. The three boys who were arrested for the Mexican murder incident argued that they were drunk. Nevertheless, the police officers believed that it was a hate crime, involving discrimination. Harvey mentions that the town used to be more or less safe, populated with white middle class Americans. Nevertheless, due to the economic and social changes, more hate crimes began occurring. And also, ethnic minorities became “scapegoats” due to economic recession. According to the expert testimonies of teachers, school administrators, and halfway house directors, these misguided white kids defined racism as a way to express of their emotional needs, to get out of their anger, to find the meaning of life, to get a sense of belonging, and to get protection. For this reason, they envied blacks for having Black History Month, Black Power, and other black cultural celebrations, blamed and attacked Mexicans for losing their jobs, and drew...
Words: 585 - Pages: 3
...understanding and devotion. Acceptance plays an enormous role but as soon as an individual is tolerant to these differences, a great amount of possibilities is opened for him. But what if someone is unable to withstand or accept these changes? This is where the more serious issues rise. ‘Racism is the incapability to accept others for who they are’, which leads to some serious consequences such as prejudice, hate crimes, and could end in assault leading to death. Racism is a worldwide issue in today’s society and most people are trying to fight against it. My essay is composed of racism in Hawaii to which I believe to a certain extent there is. As human beings we are all entitles with the basic rights of living which includes food, shelter, clothing, health care, education and freedom of socializing. Racism in the United States has been a major issue since the slave era and most of our country’s founding fathers have tried to work against it. Hawaii is known for its Aloha spirit to which basically means to love one another as if you were family but what nobody realizes is the amount of hate some people have towards other races on the Hawaiian Islands. ‘Stupid Haole’ is a term used by many locals here in Hawaii Nei which means “no breath”. White families are judged as soon as they step off that plane and begin to live here. This leads all the way back to ancient Hawaiian history of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy. Since 1840 the Hawaiian Islands have been an escape to a tropical...
Words: 797 - Pages: 4