They Want To Use ‘Hate Speech Laws’ To Destroy Freedom Of Speech In America

 MICHAEL SNYDER, GUEST POST

Hate speech laws are going in all around the world, and progressive activists in the United States want to use these kinds of laws to destroy free speech in America.  You see, the truth is that these hate speech laws that are being implemented all over the planet are not just about preventing speech that promotes violence or genocide against a particular group of people.  Instead, these laws are written in such a way that anyone that says something that “offends” or “insults” someone else is guilty of “hate speech”.  Even if you never intended to offend anyone and you had no idea that your words were insulting, in some countries you can be detained without bail and sentenced to years in prison for such speech.  Today, there are highly restrictive hate speech laws in Canada, in Mexico and in virtually every single European nation.  The United States is still an exception, but the truth is that our liberties and freedoms are being eroded every single day, and it is only a matter of time until “hate speech laws” are used to take away our freedom of speech too.

If you don’t think that this could ever happen in America, you should consider what the American Bar Association has to say on the matter.  This is the national organization that represents all of our lawyers, judges, etc.  So when the ABA speaks on legal matters, it carries a significant amount of weight.  The following is how the American Bar Association defines “hate speech”…

Hate speech is speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits.

Did you catch that?

If I say something that offends or insults you, there is a very good chance that I have just committed “hate speech” according to the ABA.

And support for these kinds of laws is growing.  In fact, one survey found that 51 percent of all Democrats now support hate speech laws.  It is only a matter of time before progressives start pushing for them in a big way.

Sadly, many of these progressives don’t even understand that our Constitution protects free speech.  Just consider what CNN anchor Chris Cuomo recently had to say about this…

Hate speech is not the same thing as free speech, wrote CNN anchor Chris Cuomo on the ultimate forum for public discourse: Twitter.

Amid debate about free speech after a shooting at an anti-Muslim protest in Texas , a user tweeted at Cuomo: “Too many people are trying to say hate speech (doesn’t equal) free speech.”

In response, Cuomo, who has a law degree, said, “It doesn’t. Hate speech is excluded from protection. Don’t just say you love the Constitution … read it.”

No, I think that it is Cuomo that needs to read the Constitution.  The fact that he gets to deliver “the news” to millions upon millions of Americans is absolutely frightening.

But without a doubt, we do need to have a conversation about “hate speech” in the United States.  If I offend or insult you, that does not mean that I “hate” you.  And if I disagree with you, that does not mean that I “hate” you either.

Some of the things that are considered to be “offensive speech” these days are absolutely ridiculous.  For example, just consider the following excerpt from a recent article by Paul Joseph Watson…

Here’s an actual list of things that according to the University of Wisconsin are racist:

– Asking someone where they are from or where they were born.

– Telling someone they speak good English.

– Telling someone that you have several black friends.

– Saying that you’re not a racist.

– Complimenting an Asian person by telling them they are very articulate.

– Asking an Asian person for help with science or math.

– Uttering the phrase “There is only one race, the human race.”

– Saying that you think America is a melting pot and that when you look at someone you don’t see race.

– Believing that the most qualified person, regardless of race, should get the job.

– Thinking that every person, regardless of race, can succeed in society if they work hard enough.

– Telling a black person who is being too loud to be quiet.

– Telling an Asian or Latino person who is too quiet to speak up.

– Mistaking a person of color for a staff member when you’re in a store.

– Calling something “gay”.

– Doing an impression of someone’s dialect or accent.

Could you imagine going to prison for any of those “offenses”?

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