Hate Speech

The October 6, 2019 article “Free Speech Is Killing Us” found in the New York Times was certainly relevant. This article addressed noxious speech found on social media and the ineffective stance taken by the media giants and the politicians regarding limits. Numerous examples of physical violence and murder were given that recently took place in our country as well as the 1993 -1994 genocide in Rwanda were cited. Should our government and social media platforms be held accountable for allowing the spreading of false, hateful and noxious speech?

Some might say that free speech is protected by our First Amendment. Others might say that the First Amendment does not apply to private companies; and the Constitution does not guarantee it to them. Others might say that not all free speech is protected such as 1. Libel 2. Incitement to violence and 3. Child pornography. Further, what about noxious speech that drives a woman out of her workplace; rhetoric that correlates with hate crimes; speech that bullies a teenager into committing suicide; or words that influences democracy in the direction of totalitarianism?

Others point to the 14^th amendment which guarantees full citizenship and equal protection to all Americans including those who are harmed by hate speech? Do you protect just the hater or the distributor of noxious incitement and not protect the victim or victims of such derogatory behavior? The Christchurch gunmen for example wrote a number of negative posts and indicated on one “that it was now time to make a real-life effort post.” He murdered 52 people.

Make no but doubt about it, hate and noxious speech can be defined. Alex Jones and Milo Yiannopoulos have been barred from all major social media platforms. There are plenty of inappropriate hateful online posts that come from a variety of sites in and out of our country. The government’s responsibility is to protect its people. Protect the people now. Do your job.

There are many variables that result in causing one individual to hurt another. Let’s not use a parataxic mode of thinking and believing the power of one post and its resultant causing someone to kill another. However, it’s true that “sticks and stones can break one’s bones.” However it’s not true “that names will never hurt me.” It’s also true that “hate can evoke feelings of animosity, anger or resentment which can be directed against certain individuals groups or entities.” Hate also is associated with violent antipathy. The unpleasant emotion and behavior of hate (revenge}, and if it’s a character trait, is a real threat to our political process, our Republic, and to our well-being. There’s too much sadomasochistic behavior {the tendency to derive pleasure, from inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation on others} present on social media from known and unknown sources. Let’s come together to protect the recipients of hateful rhetoric that’s all too common in social media. Protecting recipients from unhealthy words affect well-being. Protection is not only constitutional but it’s also one of the 10 commandments “thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” I thought this country was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Am I naïve?