Thursday, September 15, 2011
Hate Speech
Hate speech is hurtful language that degrades another person or group of people. Due to the First Amendment, anyone can participate in hate speech so long as it is not libel, obscenities, or fighting words. It is difficult to regulate it on the web due to the First Amendment providing freedom of speech. On the web, I think that websites that choose to participate in hate speech should have a warning as their home page, just as pornography sites are required to. In order to enter the site, viewers must be notified of the possibly offensive content and required to acknowledge that they are aware of what they are about to view. Off the web, I'm not sure what more can be done due to the limiting First Amendment. It's truly a touchy area. I definitely think it should somehow be banned from necessary public places such as hospitals and schools. Places like these are vital to people's lives and not an option to not visit, and as a result people who are offended by hate speech should not have to worry about hearing it. Other public places that are not as necessary to a person's well being, such as concert venues, restaurants, and shopping malls, it is not necessary to ban hate speech. If someone is using hate speech and another is offended, in unnecessary places the offended can leave and choose to shop at a different store or eat at a different restaurant. This solution I do not believe would be a violation of our freedom of speech, but rather a modification for the sake of vital necessities. In no way do I think this is fair, however, I believe it is the most practical solution for society at this time. In addition, I believe a lighter way to help stop hate speech would be to begin teaching awareness of it in schools. Perhaps a program could be created, similar to D.A.R.E., where young students would be exposed to it and taught that although it is a choice, for their sake and others around them it would be best for them to choose not to engage in it.
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2 comments:
I agree with you that a program in education might help with something like this. I don't think that college should be the first time someone learns about hate speech and the role it plays both legally and culturally in our society. It's interesting to reflect on high school years and imagine what it would be like if I knew then what I know now. I have met so many people who say the same. I think that as adults we underestimate younger people comprehending topics such as hate speech. I think that it's important for young people to learn about this and how it might affect their lives one day.
Communication is the greatest tool for harmony we as human beings have at our disposal. Sadly, this also means that it is also our greatest weapon in destruction. The people that choose to accept others and neglect the use of hate speech are promoting positive relations within our society, yet there always going to exist the people who choose to antagonize the good by trying to push their buttons and trigger their insecurities and foster a reaction in order to ease their own insecurities. I do agree that we must teach people during their youth the damage that can be done by hate speech, but by restricting people from freedom of speech in public places, it creates nothing more than a segregation in our society between the good willed and the misguided.
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