Up@dawn 2.0

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

The Purpose of Hate Speech

    On our campus this week, a group has been shouting ignorant nonsense outside of the Student Union that has gathered large crowds of students and started a heavy debate about free speech and how far it should go. There's a very slim minority who want him here but I may be a part of the slim minority that says "If he wants to speak, let him speak".
    As a pro-choice queer person, the epitome of what they seem to be preaching against, it's very important that those people are able to have a voice. A consequence of free speech is having to hear opinions and dialogue that you don't like, but if America wants to call itself the Land of the Free, we have to allow them a voice whether we like it or not. The great thing, however, about all this violent speech that would normally bother me on a personal level, for every one person screaming homophobic ideals, there were hundreds of students against them. It was honestly heart-warming to see all of these students come together to love one another and created a reminder that all these hateful views are outdated and unpopular. The more this man shouts, the less people will take him seriously. He has said some very offensive things, not only to me but to many other students, but no matter what he says it only makes him less respected and his voice not important. So for a few days I will bear through a single man or group shouting from a megaphone about how I am worthless and repulsive if it reinforces that his opinions don't matter while still upholding the concept of free speech that makes America so great.

6 comments:

  1. (H3) That is really positive viewpoint on that situation. I'll admit I was mostly just angry at this man's hate speech. However, I can see the positive aspects, the solidarity against his hate.

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  2. I was also angry at first about this situation. While I don't agree with what he's saying, I do believe he should be able to say it. Many people don't believe he should be able to say these things but how can we say we have free speech if only some opinions are allowed?

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  3. Anonymous11:27 PM CDT

    (H1) While I heavily disagree with what they are saying myself, I do believe that we have to allow them to speak. Countries such as Canada have anti-hate speech laws but then that could easily be abused to suppress multiple forms of speech if someone simply disagrees with it.

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  4. I agree we have to allow them to speak, however I do not agree that they should be allowed to directly harass students. There are laws against this in our state. More so, it annoys me that they are taking several of our police officers away from patrolling the campus to protect him. If he wants to express his free speech he can but we don't all get a police officer to walk around with us and protect our rights so why does he?

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  5. It is a beautiful thing when everyone comes together against such hateful speeking because that means that the hate is not being spread and is only forcing everyone together more than they already were.

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  6. This was so positive and made me happy to read. I too loved seeing all of the people standing together with one another to take a stand against all of the hate that runs rampant throughout. There was one group that particularly made me happy as they blared random love songs and wailed them back to the speaker, which was quite beautiful.

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