IS IT HATE SPEECH? or is it FREE SPEECH?

And what's race has to do with it?

Besides being a good question, it is one that needs to be answered pronto, isn't?

While it is true that most of us have an answer, or at least we think we do, the fact of the matter is that whatever our position on the question is, it directly conflicts at a visceral level with camps holding different opinions and positions on the matter, so the solution clearly lays in agreeing to a compromise on where Free Speech ends and Hate Speech begins, or if there is a start and an end for that matter.

The answer is so obvious that it appears simple, or so we think... or may be lead to believe, whichever the case may be.

In my opinion, it is the wrong question, as a matter of fact, it is not ven a question, it should be a conclusion; some of the real questions to be answered and agreed upon are, what is free speech? are there or should there be any limits to free speech? what is hate speech? what are the qualifiers for either term?

A quick overview of the dialog on the issue, clearly shows that there are two basic points of view, a) there should not be any limitations to voicing your opinion in words and, b) when opinions in words incite violence, discrimination, aggravate phobias which harm human beings and/or curtail Constitutional Guarantees, it ceases to be free speech and turns into "Hate Speech" - Or puting it in another way, the freedom of one ends where the freedom of others begin.

Again, even so, the task of carrying a civil debate seems overwhelming due to the antagonistic tone of the discussion because it is always the other side the one engaging in Hate Speech, the solution appears simple; let's talk, let's have a dialog for the good of society, for the well-being of this country and it's relations with others.

Not so fast! We still have to address and deal with the racism that colors the opinions of some and drives the actions of others, in addition, let's include in the dialog the interests of those who benefit from the division of races and classes... do I need to continue?

And now I come full circle, the answer to thebasic question is simple,
Q. What to do?
A. We need to talk
- the second part of the question is where the crux of the matter lays,
Q. How to go about it? ......
A. ???

Aurora Grajeda
Latinos Against Hate Speech, SFBA
Campaign Against Hate Speech volunteer.

The following item from Dorinda

'White power' chanted during immigration discussion at school
written by: Jeffrey Wolf, Web Producer
and Nelson Garcia, Reporter

BROOMFIELD – It started with a simple question and ended with at least one student chanting "white power" in a classroom.

It happened Tuesday in a classroom at Holy Family High School, the Catholic school that sits at the corner of 144th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard in Broomfield.

The classroom discussion started with the question: Why do students need to learn Spanish?

According to the Archdiocese of Denver, the conversation soon became about immigration and it turned ugly.

"It became a heated discussion and some rhetoric was used that was inappropriate for the classroom," said Jeanette DeMelo, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Denver.

More coments on the incident:

Democratic Underground, Free Republic, Sloopo.com, Topix, Lucianne.com, And on, and on, and....

(The following two colums from Mesha)

Racism rides again

What we do as individuals, families, communities and societies: It Matters

By: BRIGID BRETT
- For the North County Times
IT MATTERS
(Recommend visiting for more of her columns)

It's been four months since a chorus of San Diego Minutemen shouted at Olga Diaz to "go back to Mexico" at an Escondido City Council meeting, yet Diaz still hears their jeers as clearly as if they were shouted at her last night. It would have been bad enough if Diaz actually was from Mexico, but she was born and raised in the United States and is therefore as American as President Bush himself. I was at City Hall that night and I remember literally feeling my skin crawl when Diaz had those words flung at her, followed by a rowdy burst of applause that echoed through the chambers.

It crawled in much the same way when I read about the family of legal immigrants from El Salvador who moved into a house in Kentucky and received, instead of a welcome basket, a burning cross on their lawn and a note that read:
"My country, maybe. My neighborhood ---- no way."
More...

Internet opens new window for hate

What we do as individuals, families, communities and societies: It Matters
By: BRIGID BRETT
- For the North County Times
IT MATTERS
(Recommend visiting for more of her columns)

Thanks to satellite radio, cable TV and video-sharing Web sites like YouTube, it has never been easier to dehumanize people ---- in the name of comedy and entertainment. What was once considered shocking and degrading is now not only acceptable but considered worthy of emulation. One of the most extreme examples of hate disguised as entertainment was seen on a recent YouTube video posted by "The Cockroach Hunter," better known as Robert Crooks, founder of the Mountain Minutemen. The video, shot through a night scope and accompanied by a running commentary of ethnic slurs and profanity, shows the tracking and
apparent shooting of an undocumented immigrant on the border. It was removed from YouTube a few days ago, but not before it was viewed by thousands of people, giving rise to a free-for-all of hate in the ensuing comments and blog

Below you'll find a list of pieces written since 08/22/07 to date that meet the following
very, very narrow criteria: 'Immigration', 'hate', 'speech' - No attempt was made to select which entries to include, pro, con and in the middle, you'll find them allfor your perusal.

Aurora

SF Board of Supervisors: Resolution... regardless of immigration status, and makes every affirmative effort to ... FURTHER RESOLVED, That this speech is deemed by the Board as symbolic of ...

Three Strikes for the Open Borders Lobby
FrontPage magazine.com - Los Angeles,CA,USA

Last week, a move to get the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to condemn the "hate speech" of conservative talk-show host Michael Savage was stopped by a ...

Three young people died in Newark, the latest casualties in illegal aliens' war on America.

But don't expect even this bloody outrage to end the complacency of the political elite - or the mainstream media - as the alien invasion turns our streets into a slaughter house.

'80s memoir shows struggle for skinheads' souls
Indianapolis Star - United States

When Combo delivers the hate speech that gives this movie its title -- the miniature St. George's Cross tattooed into his forehead all but pulsates on its...
Immigration Now, Immigration Tomorrow, Immigration Forever

Reason Online - Los Angeles,CA,USA
size=3>Muslim Hate Speech OK (Again)
By JR(Reliapundit)

The BBC and the rest of the Left are ALWAYS ready to excuse Muslim hate speech on free speech grounds. Just say something adverse about homosexuals (for instance) though and see what happens. Note this, "The BBC is required to explore a ...
THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS - http://astuteblogger.blogspot.com/

YAF against freedom for Muslims
By Philip Rodney Moon(Mike Ramsey)

"'Conservative' Traitors Whine About Immigration Reform"- criticizes activist Grover Norquist for being married to an Islamic woman and suggests he may have converted. This is used in attempt to discredit him and ...
YAF Watch - http://yafwatch.blogspot.com/

POLITICALLY BIASED PROSECUTIONS Lewis Libby has n...
By olegqta

If there is another, it is an end to the double standard that loudly condemns hate speech when it comes from the right, while barely noticing when it spews from the left. Coulter and Maher may win cheap laughs, but some kinds of "humor" ...
Oleg Ilana Posts - http://olegqta.fictioneer.org

Slupski: Minutemen's fate was not fault of police
Northwest Herald - Crystal Lake,IL,USA

It is fine to mock and insult immigrants but it is offensive to call the minuteklan a hate group. My legally confused friends take pride on directing ...

The Fred factor
Economist - UK

Sitting in a leather armchair and sucking on an unlit Cuban cigar, he lambasted Mr Moore, a conservative hate-figure if ever there was one, for his naive ...

County joins city, denies Klan
News Courier - Athens,AL,USA

He also called the Klan "a hate group" and said, "We don't want them here. They are not invited here and we don't need help with immigration....

POLITICALLY BIASED PROSECUTIONS Lewis Libby has n...
By ravenmuhammadysn

If there is another, it is an end to the double standard that loudly condemns hate speech when it comes from the right, while barely noticing when it spews from the left. Coulter and Maher may win cheap laughs, but some kinds of "humor"
...

It Was Only a Matter of Time Before the Vultures Started Squaking
By Webmaster

Cops and other authorities make arrests and solve really dangerous and menacing criminal acts, like sawing off a shotgun a millimeter too much (which carries the death penalty for your wife, baby daughter and dog), and hate speech.

Conservative sites Blocked in NC Airport
By JonJayRay

The usual Leftist "Hate speech" accusation against critics of Islam:. "This morning, as I sit in Charlotte/Douglas Airport, I discover that the following web sites are banned at the Airport by their SonicWall firewall: ...

Hate Speech
at The Washington Post

Skip to comments. Hate Speech at The Washington Post ... County attempted to enforce U.S. laws against illegal immigration the Washington Post denounced it.

size=3>Thoughts From Fjordman
Global Politician -
Brooklyn,NY,USA...

for a nation's right to decide how much immigration it wants to accept, if any, and the fight against the imposition of quotas, hate speech laws, hate...

Wednesday Coffee Talk
By Powers155

Hate crimes do happen, even in your neighborhood.
MediaMouse: Republican Task Force Holds Hearing on "Illegal Immigration" in West Michigan. Unfortunately, the Republicans only let those who equate immigrants with terrorists speak. ...

Liberals and attack on Conservatives' Freedom of Speech
By rightwingchick1(rightwingchick1)

"There is no basis in American Law for such a suit but the larger point is the astonishing hate speech he is engaging in. To stop opinion by threatening legal action is akin to using the power of the State to control thought andspeech.
Warning: Does Not Play Well With... - http://rightwingchick1.livejournal.com/

Excuse me! Israel has been there for 3400 years! Get over it!
By No Compromises

Branding Israel as racist portrays her as a country that harms civilian populations, oppresses minorities, and establishes restrictive immigration laws and religious statutes as part of its ideological raison d'etre. ...
No compromise when it comes to... - http://gto7.wordpress.com

Illegal Immigration - Americans for Legal Immigration PAC Forums ...

The media should voluntarily ban today's hate speech ("anchor babies") against .... So, if your opposed to illegal immigration (and their little anchor ...

'Anchor babies' is hate speech

- North County Times / The ...
The media should voluntarily ban today's hate speech ("anchor babies") against ..... However you feel about illegal immigration, dehumanizing kids is merely ...

Canada Immigration Discussion Forum - WARNING..... P34, SMILELADY ETC

The line between hate speech and free speech is a thin one, and countries ... The Immigration Act. Under the Immigration Act, customs officials have the ...

BRITISH CHARITY'S HANDBOOK OF HATE MPs and Jewish leaders have ...
By jonjayray(Tomalak)

His portrayal of Lewis' Zionism as the mother of all evils was apparently triggered by a speech delivered at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in March of 2007, in which Lewis pitted Europe and Islam against each other,...
Political Correctness Watch - http://pcwatch.blogspot.com/

Take Two - Poor Bashing...the sexualization of poor wimmin is ...
By Dark Daughta(Dark Daughta)

Christian camouflaged claptrap designed to mislead youth, miring them in confusion, shame and self hate. I think about all the wimmin I've encountered over the past few years...of course I'm talking about Black wimmin, since that who I ...
One Tenacious Baby Mama - http://darkdaughta.blogspot.com/

Former Soviet Dissident Warns Of EU Dictatorship
By PROUDAUSSIE

France passed the same law of hate speech concerning gays. Britain is passing hate speech laws concerning race relations and now religious speech, and so on and so forth. What you observe, taken into perspective, is a systematic ...
Stormfront White Nationalist... - http://www.stormfront.org/forum

Truth about Islam is Offensive
By JR(Reliapundit)

But according to Arab American News it is "hate speech". Let me coin a slogan here: "Truthful speech is not hate speech"

Education reform - Vouchers
By andy padon

It's the reason that "hate speech" codes are instituted to insure that only the most leftist, approved things are thought and spoken. Under the Constitution, even so-called hate speech is protected. ...
THERE IS NO SECOND PLACE - http://therealthing.blogs.com/there_is_no_second_place/

'Anchor Babies' Is Hate Speech
Police Kidnapped Them;
Matthew on 'Anchor Babies' Is Hate Speech; the marlboro man on Cat Fight In Virginia Over Opposing Illegal ImmigrationPolicies ...

Today’s North County Times readers can’t find an article that uses the infamous N-word, the Q-word (queer) or words like “homo” for homosexual.
What they find is the use of the words “anchor babies” in letters or Opinion pieces.
"Anchor babies” are words used by extremists to define babies born of illegal alien parents in the United States.
Most of these children are born to Mexican parents illegally in the United States. Shamefully, the anti-illegal alien cohort also applies the term to any Mexican-American regardless of the legality of one or both parents, grandparents or great-grandparents.

?Anchor Babies? Is Hate Speech - Save Our State Forums

Anchor Babies? Is Hate Speech Immigration Watchdog. ... Hate speech is protected free speech. It's not illegal to hate. It's not against the law to say "I ...

Vincent, fire up your engine. This guys argument is so weak, you’ve got plenty of room to drive your truck through!
NT Times

Today’s North County Times readers can’t find an article that uses the infamous N-word, the Q-word (queer) or words like “homo” for homosexual.
What they find is the use of the words “anchor babies” [...]
More...
Sign the PETITON to end birthright citizenship
ImmigrationWatchdog.com
Donate to RON PAUL 2008

Washburn: Why the negative campaigns? Look in a mirror for the cause
DesMoinesRegister.com - Des Moines,IA,USA

Americans say they hate negative campaigning. In a Gallup poll during the 2000 campaign, Americans said they had little tolerance for negative ads, ...

New: Immigration sides conduct peaceful protests
Northwest Herald - Crystal Lake,IL,USA

To the north, the Minutemen gathered holding signs stating, "This is not hate, it's just our laws" and "The money is already there, build the fence. ...

CRYSTAL LAKE – Two sides of the immigration debate came together peacefully Saturday as about 60 people from several groups conducted demonstrations at McCormick Park.
Members of Minutemen Midwest and the Chicago Minuteman Project, which oppose illegal immigration, conducted a protest in response to a vigil planned by the McHenry County Peace Group, McHenry County Latino Coalition and the Carpentersville
Community Alliance.
The groups were separated by yellow police tape and did not meet in the middle. To the north, the Minutemen gathered holding signs stating, “This is not hate, it’s just our laws” and “The money is already there, build the fence.”
To the southeast, vigil supporters’ signs said: “Diversity is good for America” and “Justice and unity for all.”

Weekly news roundup
By Cathryn Cluver

Those of you lucky enough to subscribe to the Financial Times will be privvy to a full article on European immigration flows, published early last week. The article refers to recent Goldman Sachs research on population mobility to ...
Migration - http://migration.foreignpolicyblogs.com

Those scary illegal immigrant opponents
By Jessica McBride(Jessica McBride)

It's a common tactic. When some liberals don't like the arguments conservatives make, they label those arguments "hate speech" to silence them. And so it goes with illegal immigration. I thought this article on the "illegal
immigration ...
McBride's Media Matters - http://mcbridesmediamatters.blogspot.com/

Hate Speech Pinheads Really Hate Speech
By Tanstaafl(Tanstaafl)

"Anchor babies" is hate speech? How about your word "extremists" Raoul, you hypocrite? How about the racist, fascist, bigot, xenophobe, and nativist slurs so effortlessly tossed around by your colleagues in the media Raoul?
...
Age of Treason - http://age-of-treason.blogspot.com/

size=3>An Open Letter to Sean Hannity -"Ron Paul Is a Great American" by ...
By editor

Tony Blair - a good American - gave a speech about values to a joint session of Congress three months after Baghdad fell. He said that our values are not Western values, they are values shared by ordinary people everywhere. False. ...
The Institute For Immigration... - http://www.iipr.com/

size=3>Anti-immigrant rally prompts debate about rights
Asbury Park Press - Asbury Park,NJ,USA

Just don't get involved with any hate groups. There are a lot of Americans who are plain tired of illegals, crime,
corruption, etc. .

Russia: "At least it's patriotic" The year 2007 may well be best ...<
By JR(JR)

Patriotism may even be legally suppressed as "hate speech" on occasions. "Hate" is so broadly defined by the Left that any belief in the superiority of Western civilization can qualify as "hate". ...
Dissecting Leftism - http://dissectleft.blogspot.com/

Hooray for the Chinese Jew!
By JR(Reliapundit)

"A single vote by a San Francisco Board of Supervisors member whose grandfather emigrated from China seven decades ago has halted in its tracks a proposal to condemn as "hate speech" radio personality Michael Savage's criticism of ...
THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS - http://astuteblogger.blogspot.com/

Feed, August 23, 2007
By alex

Today White girls are groomed for prostitution by Muslim invaders, admitted by the jews controlling immigration policy, the same jews who forbid, by law, Whites from criticizing the 'minorities' that make up 92% of the world's ...
Vanguard News Network - http://www.vanguardnewsnetwork.com

CAIR Thugs on Islamophobia Patrol: Coming Soon to Your ...
By jonjayray(Tomalak)

Having decided that they could not or would not prosecute the purveyors of Wahhabite hate speech portrayed in the film - mostly from the Green Lane mosque in Birmingham - they instead turned round on the documentary-makers and ...
Political Correctness Watch - http://pcwatch.blogspot.com/

face="Times New Roman" size=3>Canada Immigration Discussion Forum

The line between hate speech and free speech is a thin one, ... Act. Under the Immigration Act, customs officials have the authority to stop hate material ...

STAR test results for Napa County schools
Napa Valley Register - Napa,CA,USA

Rather than send him on to what would amount to torture for him and the end result of that would be that he learned to HATE school forever, he is being held ...

Divisive debate echoes across US
Fort Worth Star Telegram - Fort Worth,TX,USA

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups, said the number of "nativist extremist" organizations fighting illegal immigration has gone ...

Death threats and dithering
Scripps News - Washington,DC,USA

What matters here is that a permissive climate is being fostered without a public outcry that could help counter the hate speech like rain on a forest fire. ...

The Principles of Freedom vs. Public/Private Partnerships:
Canada Free Press - Canada

One thing is consistent on the other side - they are cowards - cockroaches who hate the light of day. Bright lights and roach spray are what we need. ...

Congress is Destroying America's Schools
AXcess News - Georgetown,KY,USA

It's the reason that "hate speech" codes are instituted to insure that only the
most leftist, approved things are thought and spoken. ...

Deportation was deserved
Northwest Herald - Crystal Lake,IL,USA

Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you. Love thy neighbor. Go in peace brothers and sisters, you have much to heal. ...

Race-baiting Politician Attacks Michael Savage
By Publius

Crazy or not, he is a foot soldier in a burgeoning effort to stifle politically incorrect dissent through social pressure, ostracism, reputation and career destruction, the threat of legal action and, ultimately, hate-speech laws. ...
Publius' Forum - http://conservablogs.com/publiusforum

Border Security, Terrorism Among Today's 'Must-Reads'
By hotoffthepress

Yesterday's batch of "must-reads" from Family Security Matters brought such a positive response, I've
decided to run some -- not all -- of today's leads. Included among them are pieces on immigration, terrorism and teens, just to name a ...
style="COLOR: green" href="http://bobmccarty.wordpress.com" target=_blank>Bob McCarty Writes - http://bobmccarty.wordpress.com

Was a hate crime perpetrated against a "poor white boy"?
By No Compromises

He isn't buying it. Kirchenwitz believes he was fired because his presence as a clerk at the store could be bad for business. He is an outspoken critic of illegal immigration. "Freedom of speech takes a back seat to profits," he said. ...
No compromise when it comes to... - http://gto7.wordpress.com

Congress is Destroying America's Schools... by Alan Caruba
By Longstreet(Longstreet)

It's the reason that "hate speech" codes are instituted to insure that only the most leftist, approved things are thought and spoken. Under the Constitution, even so-called hate speech is protected. ...
INSIGHT on Freedom - http://csadispatch.blogspot.com/

Guide to Islamic Invasion of America by 2020
By Infidelesto

Terminate America's freedom of speech by replacing it with hate crime bills state-wide and nation-wide. 2. Wage a war of words using black leaders like Louis Farrakhan, Rev. Jesse Jackson and other visible religious personalities to ...
Infidels Are Cool - http://infidelsarecool.com

Governor's Appointee Resigns Amid 'Hate Speech' Accusation - Topix

There's no place for people who indulge in that level of hate speech." A low-level appointee of Gov. ... Other Recent Immigration Reform Discussions ...