CONTACT CAROLINE
facebook
rss
tumblr
twitter
goodreads
youtube

  • Home
  • Write Away Blog
  • Books
    • Books
    • Trompe l’Oeil
    • Heart Land
    • Gothic Spring
    • Ballet Noir
    • Book Excerpts
  • Video Interviews
  • Press
    • News
    • Print Interviews
    • Plays
    • Ballet Noir in the Press
    • Trompe l’Oeil In The Press
    • Gothic Spring In The Press
    • Heart Land Reviews
  • Contact
  • About
  • Resources
    • Writer Resources
    • Favorite Blogs
    • Favorite Artists



Thoughts on Hate Speech

Dec 04, 2012
by Caroline Miller
Jeremy Waldron, Peter Korn, Steven Kanter, The Harm of Hate Speech, The Tribune
2 Comments

A recently released book, The Harm in Hate Speech by Jeremy Waldron, argues that our current laws which permit hate speech focus on legal principles rather than the effect of such speech on people who find their dignity under assault. Waldron points to European countries where hate speech is prosecuted as a criminal act, Germany, England and France among them. The author realizes that suppressing vitriolic speech does little to suppress hate but argues laws against such language set community standards.

 I understand this impulse to set limits on speech. Rappers who incite violence against women in their songs make me want to tear my hair out, or better yet, to pass laws to limit these excesses. But as one constitutional lawyer observed, “You don’t have the right to have your dignity upheld by society. Hurt feelings go with the territory.” (“Fighting words or free speech?” by Peter Korn, The Tribune, Thursday November 8, 2012, pg. A2.) Going a step further Steven Kanter, a Jew who has been a victim of hate speech and who is a law professor, defends it arguing free speech is a pressure valve that prevents hate actions. (Ibid pg. A2)

 Of course, not everyone agrees with Korn or Kanter. Some argue that one cannot yell “Fire” in a public place because it endangers lives. Similarly, allowing a person to yell obscenities against an individual or group because of race, creed or color puts those targeted at risk, an argument that has prevailed in the courts in a few cases.

The issues on both sides seem evenly matched and the country may be due for a public debate. But in a nation as diverse as ours, who should be empowered to set community standards? Should the majority rule? Or are there minority views to be protected? Additionally, do we really want government to regulate speech?

 I still rage against insensitive rappers, but in the end, I’d rather attack the ignorance than its expression.

hate sign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Courtesy of bradzimmerman.co.nz) 

 

Social Share
2 Comments
  1. Tilly Gaillard December 4, 2012 at 7:26 am Reply
    SAME IDEA: Obama, just before the elections, speaking at the UN said it “As president of our country, and commander in chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day,” Mr. Obama said. “And I will defend their right to do so.” But I agree, there have to be limits.
    • Caroline Miller December 4, 2012 at 9:11 am Reply
      Yes, what to curb and when to curb and who should curb is a big dilemma. It's like defining morality.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

Subscribe to Caroline’s Blog


 

Archives

Categories

YouTube-logo-inline2 To access and subscribe to my videos on YouTube, Click Here and click the Subscribe button.

Banner art “The Receptive” by Charlie White of Charlie White Studio

Web Admin: ThinPATH Systems, Inc
support@tp-sys.com

Subscribe to Caroline's Blog


 

Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Sitemap | Privacy Notice

AUDIO & VIDEO VAULT

View archives of Caroline’s audio and videos interviews.


Copyright © Books by Caroline Miller