Should we allow freedom of speech to people who don't believe in freedom of speech?

Question

I'm referring mainly to the BNP who think that blacks, homosexuals and disabled people should not have the rights of able-bodied white folk, and are targetting white families who think Asians are taking their jobs("how dare asians drive cars" etc.) Wrongheads.

Answer 1

I believe freedom of opinion also includes the freedom to be against freedom of opinion. n**i and communist parties should be legal everywhere - christians are... A swastika does not have more blood behind it then a cross or a hammer and cickle. Freedom of speech is for everyone, untill the n***s, commies or churchers get a firm grip on power. If they do - it was our fault - we were not organized and strong enough. But while we claim freedom for all, it really should be for all.

Answer 2

opinion don't have to be facts

Answer 3

Just one little problem...freedom of speech doesn't exist.

It is not a right or anything else!

Modern Britain has laws that are collected over centuries, and the so called freedom of speech has been eradicted over the same centuries!

We have statute that forbids treason and treachery.  Libel and slander are actionable and there is a whole body of law that forbids both discrimination and incitement against a whole range of vulnerable people in modern society.

The freedom of speech we have, means we are at liberty to express any view that is legal...nothing else.

It is called civilization.  

Check out its best answers!!  Yeah right!!   Just another troll!

We really are that thick!...moron....

Answer 4

theres a difference between freedom of speech and racism & prejudism, which the BNP are clearly guilty of

Answer 5

At the same time we should not let people who do not believe in equal opportunities have the benefits of an equal opportunities system. I think about those poor women who are not allowed to go to school, who are not allowed to join their menfolk in prayers, and in some cases have to walk a few paces behind the men outside of their homes.

Answer 6

How do you know they do not believe in freedom of speech unless you let them speak?

Answer 7

An opinion is an opinion that's all.We should always allow free speech to anybody who wishes to air there views.

It doesn't mean you have to agree.

Answer 8

Only if we have the freedom to point and laugh at them.

Answer 9

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To say that people who hold certain opinions should not have freedom of speech simply because of those opinions is unAmerican. And I say that knowing it puts me in the position of defending the free-speech rights of the most ardent Communist or n**i.

Answer 10

no...if they don't believe in it then why should they get to participate in in?

Answer 11

The very fact you can and want to ask this question means you have free speech.Long may we all enjoy it.

Back here in the li'l 'ol UK ( I know you are British I just put that in for the Yanks)  we have a saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me".Would that it were totally true.The fact is that some words do hurt and offend but hurt and offence is personal and subjective.For most of our legal history we have not legislated against "hurt feelings".Law historically has protected the individual but not individual feelings  

That said this is always a tricky question for a democrat.Remember that one of the founding fathers of European Democracy said that you might be wrong but Ihe would defend your right to be wrong "to the death".But then wrong ideas can lead to all sorts of abominations ( Just think about how long it took Hitler to get into his stride.)

Problem with such as BNP etc. is that they don't just want to be the right to be wrong They are prepared to wind people up either inadvertantly or deliberately.Democrats also must acknowledge that the BNP gets a foot in the door because the political climate ( in spite of the Daily Mail/Express)does not accomodate the more conservative working class vote any more  

So the cut off for free speech should be the point where the speaker is deliberately trying to :-

1) incite to murder

2) incite to violence

How you categorise one set of statements or policies depends on your individual sensitivities but just hearing or listening to a nutter doesw not mean you will become one.

If you ban "free speech" emanating from group x just because it makes group y feel threatened or whatever there is no end to it.The BNP is a protest/single issue vote.

Keep it in context.Hitler is not coming back.

Yet........................

Answer 12

go find something better to do with your time monkey

Answer 13

Absolutely. Just because their wrong doesn't mean they shouldn't have their rights. They aren't priviledges they're rights.

Answer 14

I don't understand how it might be possible to deny any particular group, or individual, freedom of speech and yet maintain a belief in it.

You are suggesting an absolute contradiction in terms.

At the risk of sounding too much like the old f**t I undoubtedly am, I would suggest you remember that the erosion of freedoms is one of the many reasons that many millions of people fought and died for in 2 world wars, and that we deny those very freedoms to anybody at our own peril.

What do you feel when somebody, tomorrow, decides that it is illegal for you to post this question?

And that is NOT a frivolous question, but an important one.

Answer 15

yeah...

Answer 16

Well, it's not an either or proposition.  Either everybody has freedom of speech or nobody will.

Answer 17

It depends on what you mean by freedom of speech, it's not denying freedom of speech to say you think what someone has said is vile and disgusting.

But there is also one thing people confuse, freedom of speech with a right to a platform.  Freedom of speech doesn't mean you have a right to make people listen

Answer 18

Wheres your proof that this is the ideals of the BNP? Show your links or stop the stupid empty arguments

Like I thought NO proof NO links Just a thumbs down

Answer 19

Yes.

Answer 20

Then you become the fascist.