“Hate Speech” -- The Opening Wedge To Destroy Free Speech

[Brian4Liberty]

“Hate Speech” -- The Opening Wedge To Destroy Free Speech

Opinions are not crimes. They are thoughts. Once government attempts to turn opinions into crimes, it opens the door for any thought that they don’t like to become a crime. The best way to counter distasteful opinions is with free speech, so that the truth can shine a light on them. Opinions can change. Opinions are always changing. But allow the idea of “hate speech” and government can make it a crime anytime you open your mouth in opposition to them.

[Anti Globalist]

There's absolutely no reason to turn opinions into crimes unless the opinions being stated are the actual truth.

[osan]

The actual term "hate speech", originated in the 80s (and please correct me if my memory is mangled). I remember when the first "hate speech" laws made the news. My reaction was as it is today: this is an utter and rank absurdity that should have been stamped out by SCOTUS from the get-go. Well, it should never have arisen in the first place, of course, but American politics being what it is, anyone with an IQ would be able to comfortably predict such nonsense as inevitable.

I've gone about about the dangerous stupidity the term itself represents for at least 30 years. "Cancer" comes to mind, and here we all these decades later in some sorry shape that shows no end any time before the sun goes nova.

We get what we tolerate.