You can't get in trouble for just BEING a racist right?
What if you said something racist outloud where other people could hear it? In your own house? In your own backyard? In public?
2006-08-07 17:09:09 · 11 answers · asked by feelinfree408 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Who said anything about skin color? It's the RACE that bothers me
2006-08-07 17:27:48 · update #1
See Links!
http://www.littlegeneva.com/images/aids_graph.jpg
http://www.newnation.org/NNN-hatecrimes.html
http://www.newnation.org/NNN-Black-on-White.html
http://www.tightrope.cc/rap.htm
2006-08-10 01:42:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a crime to be a racist any more than it is to be ignorant, ill-mannered, slovenly, intolerant or just plain stupid. I have no doubt that many Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds are prejudice and even racist to some degree.
If you said something racist in public where people could hear you , yes, you could be in potential legal trouble. I imagine it depends on the statement being factual and not slanderous. That it does not incite civil unrest or disobedience. Even the slightest of racial slurs have caused riots and destruction of property and what is to say that you wouldn't be charged with causing the civil unrest and made to pay financial restitution?
If you are asking if your speech is protected under the 1st Amendment; I would say yes, within limits. Freedom of speech is protected, even unreasonable and outrageous speech, but not all speech. The usual example is always...you can't yell fire in a crowded theater.
Say what you want to your friends, in your home and backyard. In public....think before you speak. And I would think that would go for any topic you or any one else might vocalize in public.
2006-08-08 00:26:59 · answer #2 · answered by iraq51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's fine to be racist. It's even fine to make racist comments as long as they're only comments. However, you cannot take action from a racist position. You cannot hire or fire people or prevent them from getting raises because of the color of their skin. You cannot deny them housing for it. Large businesses cannot refuse service or give discounts based on skin color (but I believe that small businesses of less than 50 employees aren't as strictly regulated). But, as long as it doesn't affect business dealings, you're welcome to think whatever you want, and saying most things isn't illegal either.
However, it's also not illegal to slam your own head into a door. We shouldn't need laws outlawing stupidity. People should simply naturally want to avoid doing stupid things. Racism is just not a very intelligent attitude. A person's skin color isn't related to how nice or how intelligent or how worthwhile they are. Racism may cost you the opportunity to meet, be friends with, and learn from some excellent people. So, people should want to avoid it anyways, just like most reasonable people want to avoid slamming their own heads into a door.
2006-08-08 00:24:16 · answer #3 · answered by Muralasa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply being a racist isn't illegal, but it is how you act upon it. It is the same as being a pedophile. If you were a pedophile, but never did anything like seeking children's pics on the computer, diddling children or trying to do anything suggestive of abuse to anybody, then just being a pedophile is not illegal. But once you start acting on your impulses, you can get into trouble.
2006-08-08 00:22:16 · answer #4 · answered by Angela B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, its not illegal, however you'd have to be pretty stupid to publically proclaim that you are racist unless you want to be unemployed and just have friends that are part of the KKK.
Then you can live in a trailer and go to Wal Mart and buy sheets you can wear in public at night. Sounds like a great life.
2006-08-08 00:15:02 · answer #5 · answered by aquarian77 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ahhhh the American way of life and all its' glory. The great freedom it has to offer, where else can a dumba$$ like yourself ask such a stupidass question like this and continue go on with daily life as if nothing is wrong with what you asked.
2006-08-08 08:56:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It's protected by the First Amendment. You are allowed to think whatever you want about another person. It's only when you infringe on another person's freedom that it becomes illegal.
2006-08-08 00:14:27 · answer #7 · answered by Jeremy C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I doubt that it is illegal if not practiced in a work or public place. It is rather assholish to want to be seen in that way.
2006-08-08 00:24:14 · answer #8 · answered by Elwood 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, ignorance is not a crime. Of course the fight that would follow speaking out, is.
2006-08-08 00:15:20 · answer #9 · answered by Ljoy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not illegal to be racist day to day.
However, it is illegal to discriminate when hiring people based solely on race.
2006-08-08 00:13:58 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋