Letters to the Editor

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Aycharaych

Published Letters: 2219     Editor's Choice: 3

  • While I agree that hate speech laws are pernicious..

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    And have no place in a free society.

    I have to ask; how many people are imprisoned in Canada as a result of these laws?

    Given that the incarceration rate in Canada is about one seventh what it is in the USA I would have to guess that the number is either zero or very close to zero.

    Compare and contrast with the United States, where we have literally hundreds of thousands of people locked in cages for the "crime" of possessing a common weed.

    Hate speech laws and drug laws are both destructive of freedom but really, in practice which is doing more real damage to society?

    And I can demonstrate quite easily how political expression can lead to harassment from the forces of the law in the USA.. Put a bumper sticker on your vehicle advocating the legalization of "drugs" and see how long it takes to get pulled over and your car ransacked.

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 06:19 AM

  • DavisMS

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I suspect that the question Glenn will now ask you is this.

    What about when it is the authoritarians designing the "hate speech" laws?

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 06:44 AM

  • shannonr

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I know, however, that I'm not likely to sway a majority to that view. Largely because the majority hold beliefs that are, by common consent, immune to criticism of any kind, great offense simply assumed concomitant with any dissent. Those beliefs? We call those religion and patriotism.

    Thank you, you put it far better than I could have..

    I completely agree, we do not have a right to be free from insult.

    But then, I'm not a "serious" commentator here.

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 07:07 AM

  • LWM

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    influence the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.

    Hmm.. Isn't that what the definition of politics is?

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 07:14 AM

  • Glenn

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    So by your reasoning, it would be perfeclty appropriate for them to be able to sue him, drag him to court, make him hire a lawyer, and then convince a government official that he shouldn't be punished for what he said? That's what you want the law to allow, right?

    Actually you did more than ask a question, you put words into shannonr's mouth..

    Something you do not like when others do it to you.

    And you did completely misread shannonr's post, it would be nice to see you admit that.

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 08:16 AM

  • Kitt

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I have to disagree that there are anywhere near hundreds of thousands of people "locked in cages" in the United States for simple possession of marijuana.

    Given that anything over a ridiculously small quantity of cannabis is considered "possession with intent to distribute" then I stand by my statement.

    A heavy pot smoker can go through an ounce in a week easily. In light of the fact that purchasing pot involves more than a simple trip to the store then buying a significant quantity for personal use makes eminent sense both financially and ecologically.

    Oh, and I thought you were "done with" me?

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 08:25 AM

  • Glenn..

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    But the questions I asked would be perfectly appropriate ones for someone who did actually advocate the reasoning set forth in that comment.

    True enough, but since shannonr did not advocate that reasoning then he/she has no need to respond to your questions.

    Don't take me wrong, I'm very much on your side, I just thought it was sort of ironic to see you do to someone else that which happens to you continually.

    I'm also taken wrong continually, often deliberately so, I therefore am quite attuned to catching it when it is done to others.

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 08:36 AM

  • Kitt

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    There are not "hundreds of thousands" locked in cages in the United States for simple possession. That is just not true.

    http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7040

    Washington, DC: Police arrested an estimated 786,545 persons for marijuana violations in 2005, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's annual Uniform Crime Report, released today. The total is the highest ever recorded by the FBI, and comprised 42.6 percent of all drug arrests in the United States.

    Part of the arrest process is being incarcerated, even if only briefly.

    There may not be hundreds of thousands at any one time but there certainly are over the course of a given year.

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 08:41 AM

  • LWM

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    It's possible to take two common chemicals that are present in many households and make a (very touchy) high explosive from them.

    Should those chemicals be tracked by the federal government?

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 09:11 AM

  • Paul Dirks

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I'm going to answer your question since no one else seems to want to. (I can't imagine why)

    The eventual penalty for refusing to obey any law vigorously enough is death.

    If you do not pay the fine, you will eventually be arrested. Resist arrest vigorously enough and violence, even unto death, will be the eventual outcome.

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 09:18 AM

  • Kitt..

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Hey, shitwad, I got busted for intention to distribute. Aka, growing it. I got four months home detention. I was growing "more than an ounce".

    And of course, all states are as lenient as your own on dope dealers, eh?

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 09:24 AM

  • LWM

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    For the most part, Americans are pretty reasonable people.

    They sent GW Bush to the White House for a second term.

    Does that sound "pretty reasonable" to you?

    Sunday, January 13, 2008 09:27 AM

  • HansB

    [Read the article: The Noxious Fruits of Hate Speech laws]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    And let's not forget that unlike Americans we Europeans have had the traumatic experience of seeing hate speech begin on a soap box and finish in Auschwitz. Which is why we may want to intervene in the soap box phase - we know it's too late when it reaches the Reichstag. Even after the Bush years Americans think it can't happen to them.We Europeans believe it can happen to nyone.

    Nice post, good points.

    The problem with Euro style hate speech laws brought to the US is that sooner or later they will be used to protect the sensibilities of the majority from the minority.

    Monday, January 14, 2008 06:37 AM

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