What IS hate speech?

Question

Is namecalling (example the "N" word for African Americans or the "G" word for Asians or the "C" or "H" word for Caucasians) considered hate speech? Is talking candidly about about behavioral issues with certain racial groups hate speech, even if those issues are based on fundamental truth, even if it doesn't bring threats of violence or suggest that minorities should go back to second class status?

I would appreciate everyone who reads this to do so with an open mind, and respond likewise. Educational answers would be preferable, as it would be a clear definition of what hate speech is, and what hate speech isn't.

Answer 1

The truth of the matter is that we live in a society which has itchy ears and no longer desires to hear truth. Hate speech, to any common-sense type of person, would be any insult by the use of what is commonly known as insulting words such as telling a person that he is the son of a female dog, and so on. However, in this day and age there are groups of people who live destructive lifestyles and no longer what to hear others criticize them and so they call the criticism "hate speech." An example of this would be the homosexual community which is trying so hard to gain acceptance in the minds of the average person that it has gone as far as trying to ennact laws to curb the opinion of others in regard to their lifestyle eventhough everybody knows that homosexuality is a destructive lifestyle. What is next, the pedophile way of life? In Sweden, I hear, it is legal for a minor to engage in sex with an adult. Is America next? Not if the common man doesn't agree. The "N" word is obviously wrong since it degrades the black race as a whole simply because of its color without regard for its contribution to society.
Hate speech is a new term created by the hypocrite intolerant of today who does not want to hear the truth about its destructive lifestyle be it homosexual or other. It is funny to note that they ask for tolerance for themselves while denying the God-given rights of others to have their own opinions and preferences when they disagree with theirs.
Mr. M on "hate speech."

Answer 2

Hate speech is not limited to words like n-_____ for African American, and epithets like that.

I could use very proper words, yet if I support treatment which would hurt another person in any way, without due process, or which takes advantage of bad laws to hurt other people, because of darker passions, such as anger, fear, lust, combined with ignorance, then my speech is hateful.

I could say, for instance, "The security of America hinges on the detaining and removal of all Moslems," that is hateful. That is hate speech.

If I say, "We need to keep secure borders, and prevent illegal aliens from being in and coming to our country," that is hate speech. It is beside the point that they are in our country illegally. Any one with any time thinking about it can see that our immigration laws are decadent and in need of reform. So that is hate speech. We would drive out a very important class of people, who make our groceries affordable, our highway repairs feasible and cost-effective, who keep our houses in good hygiene while we make big bucks.

When Spain kicked out the Moors and the Jews, this contributed to the decline of the Spanish economy. The muscle of laborers, the brains contributed by Jewish and Moorish scientists, the commerce made by the Jews and the Moslems, all this was gone, and sent to other countries such as the Islamic North Africa, the remains of the Byzantine Empire, the early Turkish Empire, and so forth.

If I say, "Homosexuality is a sin, is abominable in the eyes of the Lord G-d, so we need to purge the homosexuals from our ranks," that is hate speech. I may not spell it out, but people go take bats and other weapons to gays, and do what the more educated but still bigoted people are too smart to do with their own hands.

Get the picture?

Answer 3

Well, you just somewhat answered your question. If that speech includes threats and classify a certain group to second citizen status, it is hate speech.
What do you call a fundamental truth? Behavioral studies and especially statistics can be used to prove any point, just a question of easy manipulation.
The answer usually lies in the intent....

Answer 4

Personally, I think that hate speech is nothing short of threats of violence. I think that merely bringing up issues or ocassional namecalling shouldn't be considered hate speech. If this is so, how about such behavior towards everyone else?

Answer 5

I think any time somebody is being hateful and using bad words toward any group for religious or ethnic or racial identity it is hate speech and should be stopped. Maybe a strong warning and tickets to pay the first time. Jail the second or third times I think. Its very serious. People should not direct hate toward somebody just for being who they are. Somebody once noticed my German name while I was mailing something. He said, "I hate Germans". I understand maybe he lost ancestors in WW2, it still stings though. I can't help where my dads parents came from.

Answer 6

Any name-calling or making statements that is intended to insult - basically, everything you have listed - is hate speech. Citing scientific facts is not, although it can be very controversial, and should be done carefully, tailored to the context, and in appropriate, scientific terms. However, no matter how scientific and careful you are, there will always be those who - because of their racism/nationalism/~ism... - will feel offended. No help there.

Answer 7

"Hate Speech" is a term often used by liberals in their attacks on Christians. Anything that does not agree with the liberal viewpoint is sometimes labeled as hate speech and ridiculed. But, what really is hate speech?

dictionary.com, "speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation."
usaeducationguides.com, "A term for speech intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against someone based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. The term covers written as well as oral communication."
definitions.uslegal.com, "Hate speech is a communication that carries no meaning other than the expression of hatred for some group, especially in circumstances in which the communication is likely to provoke violence. It is an incitement to hatred primarily against a group of persons defined in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and the like. Hate speech can be any form of expression regarded as offensive to racial, ethnic and religious groups and other discrete minorities or to women."
So we can see that hate speech is that which attacks a person or group based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation and has the potential result of inciting harm.

Maybe the Liberals should study hate speech a little more. Apparently they don't get it. Don't we Christians have the right to our opinions? Don't we have the right to exercise the freedom of our religious beliefs? We do--for now. But that may change as a result of the hate speech of liberals, which is so often directed at Christians. Liberals like to name-call (homophobes, hate-mongers, etc.), label us as bigots, and say that we serve an antiquated God. In doing this they commit the very error of which they accuse us. Here's how . . .

They degrade and attack us as Christians (a religious group); and, I am sure, attempt to intimidate Christians into abstaining from the political realm and social structuring of our culture--based on our religious beliefs. They degrade our Christian lifestyle which includes the right to disapprove of homosexuality, bestiality, pedophilia, polygamy, polyandry, pornography, etc. Also, they incite prejudicial action against Christians with their ill-informed misrepresentations of Christianity. For example, they will sometimes call the God of the Old Testament a baby-killer, murderer, genocidal maniac, homophobe, etc. Such accusations can easily incite anger, hatred, and violence towards Christians. After all, if you accuse a religious group long enough, people will begin to believe the accusations. And, as we all should be aware of, beliefs lead to actions (think of Hitler's propaganda effect on the Jews). What would happen to Christians if everyone around them thought they were following a murderous, baby-killing God that was labeled homophobic and casually supported genocide? Think about it. By labeling people groups (i.e., Christians) in negative ways, it makes it easier for one group (liberals?) to hate another, to become emotionally detached, increasingly irrational, and potentially violent. Would those thus indoctrinated by the hate speech of liberal hypocrisy (which modern societies seem to embrace so readily) treat the Christians with love and kindness or with fear and intimidation? Which couplet brings peace and which brings persecution?

Ah, but such reasoning does not stop liberals from their doublespeak and hypocrisy (probably because they haven't thought things through very far). The name-calling, accusatory, intolerant liberals are quick to judge and slow to love. They are eager to blame while ignoring their own guilt. They readily condemn and remain blind to how they do the very thing of which they accuse others. Who knows? Perhaps their attitudes have been shaped by their own hate speech more than they realize.

But if we are persecuted, count it a blessing for Christ who was also persecuted unrighteously (1 Cor. 2:8). Our response is to bless those who persecute us (Rom. 12:14). If we are accused, we should bear it well (1 Pet. 4:16). This does not mean to be idle and do nothing. We have the right of self-defense (Luke 22:36) as we give an answer to everyone who would ask (1 Pet. 3:15). Yet, while we do this, our love is to be without hypocrisy (Rom. 12:9). We are never to pay back evil for evil (Rom. 12:17); and as far as it is possible, we are to be at peace with all people (Rom. 12:18)--even though many may not want to be at peace with us.

Finally, it is not bigoted, narrow-minded, or hate speech to say we follow God and believe that homosexuality, pornography, pedophilia, rape, adultery, etc., are all wrong. We are expressing the freedom of our religion--in spite of what the liberals fear and foment. Rest assured, fellow Christians, it is for righteousness and truth that we are persecuted, reviled, mislabeled, and falsely accused by those who seek to sit in judgment over our faith.