Ann Coulter, Hate Speech and Human Rights Commissions

The conservative firebrand tries to hoist the speech-stifling left on its own human-rights petards.

By Selwyn Duke

Most of us probably remember that standard elementary-school threat, “I’m gonna tell!” which meant that an appeal to authority for redress was in the offing. The one issuing it was sometimes a tattletale, but, regardless, since children aren’t fully-formed beings, their lives often have to be micromanaged. They don’t enjoy the freedom of adulthood.

And when citizens are in the habit of “telling” on each other, it means they don’t, either. Such a situation is often associated with tyrannies such as Nazi Germany, where people had to watch their tongues around others (even their own children), lest they get a visit from the Gestapo.

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Comments

[Philip France]

I am not a particular fan of Coulter's, although I admire her wit in her written articles. I question her complaint against Mr. Houle. Is she not defending a practice that she deplores by practicing it in defense?

"Hate" speech laws and speech codes are oppressive fascism. What they really do is criminalize thought. Besides, is not hatred a normal human emotion? Does not any rational human being "hate" pedophiles? How about those who would inflict violence on the elderly?

Think of the banning of radio superstar Michael Savage by the fascists running Great Britain. Are they not persecuting him for his stated thoughts and not any particular action that might have demonstrated his supposed hatred?

If one considers this deeply enough, the farther one leans to the political left, the more vulnerable one is to this sort of oppression. As they say, be careful what you wish for.

[Shaun]

I remember getting into a debate in one of my recent classes where we discussed "hate speech" vs free speech. The issue was initially in response to holocaust revisionism and observing how European laws imprisoned those who questioned the "historical interpretation" of the genocide by Nazi Germany. I remember feeling the heat as I defended those "deniers" in Europe saying that freedom of expression is either unconditional or not at all. I can't stand luke warm relativism.

After exchanging some verbal blows, I remember my professor attempted to corner me by arguing that "well you cant yell FIRE in a movie theater and you cant threaten the presidents life I bet you wouldn't disagree with that". I responded by saying literally, hell yes I can yell FIRE in a movie theater. In fact, its my duty to yell FIRE in a movie theater...if there is indeed a fire. If there is no fire then it is not a freedom of expression but a purposeful deception meant to cause alarm and panic. Furthermore, threatening the president, or anyone for that matter, is not a freedom of expression but a commitment to do harm.

The 1st amendment to the bill of rights is perhaps our most important and sacred Law endowed upon us by our Creator. Its main principle is the same principle I hear Duke express in almost every article: The search for the Truth. We may not like the ugly twists and turns the journey for Truth exposes, but at the end of the day it is our duty to not only strive for the Truth but also to protect everyone's right to do the same. We may all disagree with Holocaust deniers, lunar landing deniers, truthers, birthers, or anyone else, but we must all be prepared to fight for their right to speak.

[dd]

Why is the savage stuff set to auto play. I can't read the site because I keep hearing this Savage interview

[Laura]

Meanwhile muslims regularly can perpetrate hate-speech on campuses all over the west.

[Larrry Rivera]

Look, now don’t get this wrong…No one would be happier if we here in the United States would choose to stuff Savage’s stinky, Semitic, sweat-socks in his mouth. And muffle that irritating, New York City accented voice. But, as far as his right to air that voice goes…Well, you definitely have a point…As long as it’s his and not “his master’s voice,” which I suspect it is; if you know what I mean.

Anyway, all that aside, HBO has a documentary you might find interesting called, Shouting Fire...