[Peace-discuss] "Yes to free speech; no to hate speech"

[C. G. Estabrook]

There's no getting around it: the suppression of "hate
speech," the enforcement of speech codes, and reprisals
against editors who print objectionable material (as is
apparently being sought in this case) are all offenses against
the principles of free speech.  If you don't believe in free
speech for views you despise (i.e., "hate speech"), then you
don't believe in it at all.  It's contradictory to say, "I
believe in free speech, but...," where what follows has the
effect of limiting some speech, however atrocious. 

The cure for bad speech is more speech, not less.  Explain why
what was said should be condemned, don't call for sanctions
against those who said it, or the suppression by law or
administration of such things' ever being said.

In the present case, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab exhortations
are coming from the highest levels of our government to
encourage the public to support their War on Terror -- a war
undertaken not for racial or religious reasons at all but for
quite traditional imperial and economic goals (and often in
concert with Muslim and Arab governments).  But as skepticism
about the "Global War on Terrorism" grows, the government has
exaggerated the threat and lied about who the enemy is.  War
secretary Rumsfeld last week urged governments allied with the
US to increase their military spending to prevent the rise of
a "global [sic] extremist Islamic empire." As well as being
disingenuous, that is hate speech in a serious sense --
propaganda to back murder -- and it should be countered
openly, not suppressed, as it has effectively been in public
debate. 

Also, people who think that laudable goals -- e.g., an end to
racial or religious discrimination -- are aided by the
suppression of speech should be concerned that so much of the
political Right agrees with them.  Campus speech codes are
pressed by right-wing groups, and criminal laws against hate 
crime have their support.  Groups that try to say
unconventional things in this country -- e.g., criticism of
the U.S. relation to Israel -- are often charged with hate
speech.  And it's interesting that more people of color than
white people have been prosecuted under hate crime laws in the
U.S.

Regards, 

---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 11:31:46 -0800 (PST)
>From: hebah ahmed <hebah2 at yahoo.com>  
>Subject: Peaceful Demonstration Tuesday about Cartoons-
please attend and support  
>
>   Below please find info on the Demonstration
>   tomorrow.  We were wondering if anyone from AWARE
>   would be willing and feel qualified to speak at the
>   Demonstration about why this is unacceptable and
>   what the community response is?  please let me know
>   ASAP and forward this to all AWARE and interested
>   members of our community.  Thanks, Hebah
>    
>   Peaceful Demonstration Tuesday
>    
>   This Tuesday from 12 to 2:30, we will, as a
>   coalition of over 15 organizations and as members of
>   the community at large, hold a peaceful
>   demonstration on the main quad. 
>    
>   We hope not only to educate the media and the public
>   about Prophet Muhammad, but also about the respect
>   and dignity people of all faiths grant their
>   religious leaders. These peaceful events also serve
>   as a mechanism to unite people of all faiths in
>   solidarity. Rather than burn embassies or protest
>   violently, all peoples should stand firmly with one
>   another and peacefully condemn all forms of hate.
>    
>   Schedule:
>   12-1:00 Speaker who will talk about ! hate speech,
>   the aftermath of these cartoons, and the importance
>   of informed dialogue
>   12-2:30 pass out statement against hate and
>   informational fliers about upcoming educational
>   events
>   Other Details:
>   Signs: "Yes to free speech; no to hate speech"
>   Please encourage all to come out to the
>   demonstration.
>   Contact:
>   Shaz Kaiseruddin MSA | kaiserud at law.uiuc.edu |
>   312.479.1155
>   Reem Rahman CAIR-UIU! C | rrahman2 at uiuc.edu |
>   217.493.0912
>