If you havn't anything nice to say, then say nothing at all. It's a phrase we've allways heard, since we were children. It's obvious why we were told this, our elders, whoever they may have been, didn't want us to participate in hatefull banter. We grew up to belive that if you were going to hurt someone's feelings then it was better not to say anything at all.

But from those early days censorship has been with us. It starts with not saying something, and then looking for the best in people we dont agree with. At this point it moves from censorship of words to censorship of thought. Just another means of control.

There is good intent behind this, as in the case of hate groups. By not allowing someone to express their views on a certain ethnic or religious group, we limit the exposure they can give to thier cause, and recruit new members.

But are limitations on free speech, and censorship the answer?

Let me be the first to cast a vote in the resoundingly negative.

It is through informed debate we can change minds and thoughts, by using arguments for our cause, or point of view we as a society can influence the direction of society in a positive manner.

By censoring the free speach rights of any hate group, we severly limit their ability to show off how ignorant and ill informed they truely are, and thus themselves push people away from their cause. While I may find their opinions and view points personally offensive, even being a member of their white anglo majority, it is not my place, or the place of any government to stop them from speaking their minds. They are by the laws of this country they are entilited to do so.

We have enough limitations on what we can and can not say, such as no word about removing the ruling monarch can be spoken. This is considered high treason, even in this day and age.

By allowing laws such as this one to exsist in a free country, we walk a thin line, and a stumble the way could lead us down the road to a police state.

I urge you, if you vote in this poll, post in this thread, and defend your argument.

Just remember, big brother may not be watching right now, but he could be one day.

   

Do we need to go back to the ancient arguments about yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theatre?

Wasn't this sort of thing all worked out close to a century ago?

I don't agree with limits on questioning the government, short of calling for its violent overthrow, but that's only because the government has so much power. Nobody else does, so I don't feel that limits on things like "hate speech" infringe on my rights. How about conspiracy to commit crimes, or knowing and intentional deceit?

We might have more censorship than we need, but no way am I going to argue that we don't need any at all.

   

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~Voltaire

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. ~Voltaire

Books won't stay banned. They won't burn. Ideas won't go to jail. In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. The only weapon against bad ideas is better ideas. ~Alfred Whitney Griswold, New York Times, 24 February 1959

Did you ever hear anyone say, "That work had better be banned because I might read it and it might be very damaging to me?" ~Joseph Henry Jackson

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859

We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. ~John F. Kennedy

Take away the right to say "fuck" and you take away the right to say "fuck the government." ~Lenny Bruce

And of course for all the members on CKA who would rather ban then debate Chomsky said it best:

If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all. ~Noam Chomsky

   

Well Grain Fed, prove the old addige, if others said it best all ready, what more is there to say?