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(Dee Speaking) | ||||||
On the one hand, you claim that hate speech is very important
in that it reinforces and maintains social hierarchy both on campus
and in the larger society. On the other hand, you believe that
the four traditional arguments for freedom of expression do not
apply to hate speech and that it should be banned. This is an
unusual position because you are really admitting that hate speech
isn't just meaningless trash. It's highly political because of
its relationship to social hierarchy. You want it banned even
though it is political, perhaps because you think it is politically
powerful.
I think this points to a major difference between your view and mine. Your view also conflicts with the way our courts have recently interpreted the First Amendment. The Supreme Court gives the highest degree of protection to political speech, and I agree with their view. You want to identify certain kinds of political speech that are so vile that they should be banned. You are rejecting one of the most important principles of the currently dominant interpretation of the First Amendment.
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