General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: University of Calif considering recognizing a “right” to be “free from expressions of intolerance. [View all]branford
(4,462 posts)Some western countries, including much of Europe, do indeed criminalize what many here would consider "hate speech," such as offensive or discriminatory speech targeted at minorities or other protected groups. These criminal codes have done virtually nothing to actually silence such speech or the dissemination of vile ideas.
In fact, these countries often popularly elect actual and avowed neo-Nazis, violent anarchists or other undoubtedly offensive individuals, many of whom are downright cuddly compared to the worst elected Republicans in Congress, to both nation legislatures and the European Parliament. America, with is significantly more politically and socially conservative overall, and is more open with vastly greater free speech protections, refuses to elect such figures or generally tolerate their ideas except on the smallest, local levels, if at all.
When discussing the purported benefits of European "hate speech" restrictions or how speech codes would make a society more progressive, I'm always reminded of the Tom Wolfe quote, "the dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe."