On the Topic of Hate Speech Laws

[Coito ergo sum]

The UK is better, though their libel laws are restrictive enough that they're not quite as good as the U.S. in protecting free speech.

The UK has much more prior restraint, though. And, as you pointed out, the truth of statements is not a defense for an accusation of libel or slander.

Didn't the UK change that? I mean, that always seemed weird to me -that you couldn't make truthful statements, just because they were defamatory. Kinda like a "sweep it under the rug" rule.

[charlou]

Also, I never thought I would want to defend right-wing Christians, but after hearing about this other 'Human Rights' case...

Neither did Lavant, apparently ... he commented about his previous attitude to neo-Nazis ... until he experienced this perversion and abuse of government endorsed power for himself ... and good on him for his change of position on that.

[epepke]

Didn't the UK change that?

I don't know. I haven't paid much attention to recent UK history, except for the legalization of pornography.

[Coito ergo sum]

Paris prosecutors say Galliano to stand trial

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/ ... 2-12-48-31

And, now I have to side with the anti-semitic boob.

Fuck you Paris prosecutors! Fuck you French abomination of a law!

This is not a crime!

[laklak]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

[sandinista]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

[Coito ergo sum]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

Conservative, you mean. A truly liberal law would allow this speech.

[sandinista]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

Conservative, you mean. A truly liberal law would allow this speech.

liberalism as ideology, which is actually conservative. This fits right in.

[Coito ergo sum]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

Conservative, you mean. A truly liberal law would allow this speech.

liberalism as ideology, which is actually conservative. This fits right in.

Well, Leftism, certainly. But, classical liberalism presupposes respect for individual liberty, beginning with freedom of thought, freedom of belief, and freedom of speech. The sanctity of one's own mind and the right to express one's thoughts without interference from the State is at the heart of liberalism.

[sandinista]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

Conservative, you mean. A truly liberal law would allow this speech.

liberalism as ideology, which is actually conservative. This fits right in.

Well, Leftism, certainly. But, classical liberalism presupposes respect for individual liberty, beginning with freedom of thought, freedom of belief, and freedom of speech. The sanctity of one's own mind and the right to express one's thoughts without interference from the State is at the heart of liberalism.

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

[Coito ergo sum]

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

Thankfully, our laws in the US have generally withstood the assault you speak of. There is no law anywhere in the US on which this shit-heel would be prosecuted.

[sandinista]

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

Thankfully, our laws in the US have generally withstood the assault you speak of. There is no law anywhere in the US on which this shit-heel would be prosecuted.

yet people still get locked up for growing plants and doing with their own body what they wish.

[Coito ergo sum]

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

Thankfully, our laws in the US have generally withstood the assault you speak of. There is no law anywhere in the US on which this shit-heel would be prosecuted.

yet people still get locked up for growing plants and doing with their own body what they wish.

Yes, that's true. That's not a liberal law either. A liberal law would have marijuana growing legal. Drug laws are generally things "conservatives" support, at least in the US.

I think it's important to note the difference between drug laws and speech laws, though. They aren't the same.

[Coito ergo sum]

HICAGO • An appeals court has upheld the rights of suburban Chicago students to wear T-shirts with the words "Be Happy, Not Gay."
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling Tuesday involves a dispute at Neuqua Valley High School. A teen sued in 2006 after school officials blacked out the words "Not Gay" on her T-shirt. The incident happened the day after a "Day of Silence," which was held to draw attention to the harassment of gay students.
The court says a school that "permits advocacy of the rights of homosexual students cannot be allowed to stifle criticism of homosexuality."
The decision says the school was wrong unless it could prove the shirt would cause a "substantial disruption."
The president of the district's board declined to comment on the ruling.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illi ... 2bc8b.html

[Gallstones]

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

Thankfully, our laws in the US have generally withstood the assault you speak of. There is no law anywhere in the US on which this shit-heel would be prosecuted.

yet people still get locked up for growing plants and doing with their own body what they wish.

Yeah, it's too bad the US isn't more libertarian.