Hate crime law violates free speech
DEAR EDITOR:
The Congress of the United States of America has once again violated the Constitution. By placing a so-called ''hate crimes'' amendment to a military appropriations bill, they have violated the first amendment to that constitution by making it ''legally'' permissible to deny the right of free speech.
An American once said, ''I might not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.''
Certainly there are enough laws to deal with libel and slander. Now, however, the ''thought police'' will be required to take an action based solely on what they think you have in mind when you speak.
I wonder if this amendment is not a hate crime in itself. It surely expresses hatred of all speech that ''they'' do not approve ... or at least it could.
If it is true that a merry heart does good like a medicine, the increasing absence of such a heart might just explain a lot of our sickness. God, help us.
Jim Koehler
Bristolville
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truthmonger
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11-05-09 9:41 PM
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My point is that there is a difference between free speech and hate speech that is plotting mass murder and genocide. Racists are walking a thin line. People can still say, I disagree with black American culture because...or I do not believe in gay marriage for the following reasons... What is not acceptable free speech in my book is stuff such as this: "We need to kill all the qu-eers and blac-ks."
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truthmonger
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11-05-09 9:35 PM
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Yes and no. It isn't so black and white. If any terrorist says, "I want to blow up a US landmark", the Patriot Act allows for that terrorist to be arrested and tortured and never seen again without access to a lawyer. That even goes for US citizens who are "homegrown terrorists". The reason is because we can't wait for them to act, right? So what if some racist guy says let's blow up all the n------s! Should we be allowed to arrest him BEFORE he acts to kill US citizens? Any racist who plots to kill US citizens is a terrorist, right? If not, then we had better repeal the Patriot Act (that most of you support 100%).
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LJC327
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11-05-09 3:34 PM
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The problem is preachers preaching in church that homosexuals are an abomination, and then somebody gets all fired up and goes out and beats up homosexuals, and now the church is culpable, but they plead "freedom of religion," and so now you have a classic clash of rights. If my religion tells me to beat up homosexuals, are you stifling my freedom by making me a criminal? It seems clear that we should control behavior, not beliefs -- too much like thought control.
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BrewSlugger
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11-04-09 7:50 PM
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Hate crime legislation is completely unnecessary and anti-American. Murder is murder, assault is assault and we have laws already that deal these and other crimes. What a person is thinking, or feeling emotionally (like 'hate') is part of their thoughts. Do we really want to move in the direction of prosecuting thought crimes? It's sad how quickly America is falling. We will have a dictatorship soon.
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jennken
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11-04-09 6:50 PM
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If you kill someone, I would guess you hate 'em. Isn't killing itself a crime. As far as name calling goes..we still have free speech.
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Billdog
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11-04-09 5:49 PM
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Jim I believe you have reached along way to come to your conclusion.
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truthmonger
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11-04-09 12:39 PM
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I disagree with the letter writer but agree that we need to protect opinions. Let me start with the fact that anti-Semitic speech and symbols (swasticas) are against the law in Europe where the Jewish-holocaust occurred. I agree with banning certain speech when it has no good end or means beyond causing strife and inflaming hatred. (race wars) Example: there is a big difference between saying "I strongly disagree with the overall message of rap music" and "all rap musicians must die to cleanse the streets of America". Similarly, our actions vary widely. There is a huge difference between voters expressing that Gay Marraige isn't what the people want to see in their states (look at the results in the election) and an angry mob burning down Gay bars. You should be able to state your opinion in a civil manner. Using hate and racism to rile up the masses into a frenzy is not "free speech". It is dangerous and should be done away with like a bad habit.
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Billdog
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11-04-09 10:45 AM
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Lotterydreamer, that is because they are not doing their job. It is time to punish the violator of the laws, not those that do the right thing. Quit plea bargaining with these animals, and punish them.
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Lotterydreamer
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11-04-09 7:46 AM
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This may be a knee-jerk reaction to ever -increasing high rate of murder and assaults in this country.Lunatics are acting out at an alarming rate,and the government doesn't know what to do about it.
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