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Tensions grow inside ACLU over defending speech rights for the far right

Karkador

Banned
Once they march with guns, it ain't about free speech anymore. White supremacists are looking for violence and preparing for it. The ACLU is right to turn around on this issue.

Yeah, I agree that once guns got involved, the situation becomes something rather threatening that needs to be controlled.
 
Your link doesn't say they were never under FBI watch. Trump being a pos that gives racist groups a pass doesn't mean the FBI won't be keeping an eye on them. After last weekend Democrats can try to push the FBI to focus more on racist groups again.



Do you consider Laura Southern a Nazi?

Is this a gotcha attempt?

I never said the laws were perfect but we don't have Nazi marches where people defend their freedom to do so as part of Canada's values.
 
Martin I swear you are nothing more than a troublemaker. Sure us black folks have it bad now but it could be much worse. You think this same government is just going to give us rights and treat us fairly? Stop the marching stop the protesting and just accept the world for what it is.



People that think like this are pathetic.

Wanting the world to change but not willing to demand it.
 
There shouldn't be laws against the speech of White supremacists. It should be society as a whole that shuns them.

Should be, but it doesn't. Largely because it's not illegal.

Think of all the threads on racism where hundreds of posters say something like, "yeah, racism sucks but it's not illegal" to argue against consequences for racist acts. For a lot of people, the determiner for whether something is ok or not is whether it's legal or not. That's it, and that's why you people can get lynched and killed FEET from a police station and absolutists will defend the right of the people inciting violence to keep doing so.

White supremacy is an inherently violent ideology but because it's not illegal, many have no issue with it.
 

traveler

Not Wario
On a somewhat related note- and I'd open a new thread, but those have been getting killed so I'll try to keep this in a related thread- what is the best realistic endgame for the state of America? Does this reckoning reach a head and we somehow turn or eliminate a good chunk of the ideology of racism and hate? Do we simply force them back underground where, apparently, half the country was before? (And, obviously, things weren't great before either- plenty were persecuted and preyed upon unjustly, just less overtly than the world of today) Do things stay as they are, with the country at two polarized extremes? Getting Nazi speech out of the public may be a net gain, but what happens with all the actual Nazis in the end?

(Not asking these to try and tilt the free speech discussion one way or the other; I'm just trying to figure out what the ideal endgame actually is at this point)

Let me just very clearly say that the entire US legal and political system is designed to uphold white male supremacy that is maintained by conscious and unconscious actors. So no, I do not think that any hypothetical nazi speech law would be enforce fairly. But, at the same time, I also don't think the Voting Rights Act is enforced fairly. I don't think the Housing Bill of 68 is enforced fairly. I don't think several of our laws enacted to prevent marginalization of oppressed group are enacted fairly because they are counterproductive to the primary benefactors of this system.

I can say that "hey maybe America should do something about those nazis" at the same time acknowledging that "even if they do they'll just fuck it up cause america is pretty okay with white supremacy"

Had not considered this discussion in light of other prior abused- but still good- laws. That is a pretty relevant point in favor of change that I overlooked.
 

Deepwater

Member
So these laws aren't used justly and fairly, and you think hate speech laws in the GOP hands will be?

Let me just very clearly say that the entire US legal and political system is designed to uphold white male supremacy that is maintained by conscious and unconscious actors. So no, I do not think that any hypothetical nazi speech law would be enforce fairly. But, at the same time, I also don't think the Voting Rights Act is enforced fairly. I don't think the Housing Bill of 68 is enforced fairly. I don't think several of our laws enacted to prevent marginalization of oppressed group are enacted fairly because they are counterproductive to the primary benefactors of this system.

I can say that "hey maybe America should do something about those nazis" at the same time acknowledging that "even if they do they'll just fuck it up cause america is pretty okay with white supremacy"
 

Sulik2

Member
Hate speech should not be considered free speech. The ACLU does good work, but they are wrong here. It needs to be cut off and censored in every sane country on the planet.
 
Should be, but it doesn't. Largely because it's not illegal.

Think of all the threads on racism where hundreds of posters say something like, "yeah, racism sucks but it's not illegal" to argue against consequences for racist acts. For a lot of people, the determiner for whether something is ok or not is whether it's legal or not. That's it, and that's why you people can get lynched and killed FEET from a police station and absolutists will defend the right of the people inciting violence to keep doing so.

White supremacy is an inherently violent ideology but because it's not illegal, many have no issue with it.

Our country was founded on White supremacy. White supremacy permeates our entire society. An acceptable version of it has been normalized. Most people know, whether they agree with the views, that society doesn't accept the extreme version of it and will largely stay away from it.
 
Martin I swear you are nothing more than a troublemaker. Sure us black folks have it bad now but it could be much worse. You think this same government is just going to give us rights and treat us fairly? Stop the marching stop the protesting and just accept the world for what it is.



People that think like this are pathetic.

Wanting the world to change but not willing to demand it.

bonus

QmFtHQR.jpg

https://twitter.com/UptownBronxDSA/status/898234440895406081
 

Toxi

Banned
On a somewhat related note- and I'd open a new thread, but those have been getting killed so I'll try to keep this in a related thread- what is the best realistic endgame for the state of America? Does this reckoning reach a head and we somehow turn or eliminate a good chunk of the ideology of racism and hate? Do we simply force them back underground where, apparently, half the country was before? (And, obviously, things weren't great before either- plenty were persecuted and preyed upon unjustly, just less overtly than the world of today) Do things stay as they are, with the country at two polarized extremes? Getting Nazi speech out of the public may be a net gain, but what happens with all the actual Nazis in the end?

(Not asking these to try and tilt the free speech discussion one way or the other; I'm just trying to figure out what the ideal endgame actually is at this point)
They move to South America.
 
On a somewhat related note- and I'd open a new thread, but those have been getting killed so I'll try to keep this in a related thread- what is the best realistic endgame for the state of America? Does this reckoning reach a head and we somehow turn or eliminate a good chunk of the ideology of racism and hate? Do we simply force them back underground where, apparently, half the country was before? (And, obviously, things weren't great before either- plenty were persecuted and preyed upon unjustly, just less overtly than the world of today) Do things stay as they are, with the country at two polarized extremes? Getting Nazi speech out of the public may be a net gain, but what happens with all the actual Nazis in the end?

They are severely limited from making new ones
 
Is this a gotcha attempt?

I never said the laws were perfect but we don't have Nazi marches where people defend their freedom to do so as part of Canada's values.

No, it was a joke.

Canada doesn't have a lot of things. Like an insane christian right that wants to censor everything or islamophobes that want to take away the rights of muslims. We have a line of groups that want to chip away our rights.
 
On a somewhat related note- and I'd open a new thread, but those have been getting killed so I'll try to keep this in a related thread- what is the best realistic endgame for the state of America? Does this reckoning reach a head and we somehow turn or eliminate a good chunk of the ideology of racism and hate? Do we simply force them back underground where, apparently, half the country was before? (And, obviously, things weren't great before either- plenty were persecuted and preyed upon unjustly, just less overtly than the world of today) Do things stay as they are, with the country at two polarized extremes? Getting Nazi speech out of the public may be a net gain, but what happens with all the actual Nazis in the end?

Depends if we try to label Nazis and White Supremacists "terrorist groups" that are dangerous to our prosperity and peace. Round 'em up and send them to Gitmo. Get ride of the ultra violent ones, and scare the shit out of those flirting with the idea. Spray those cockroaches back into the cracks from where they came.
 

Mark L

Member
Beyond hate speech laws, it's not obvious to me that those who are suspected on transgressing against those laws deserve to be protected through the normal warrant acquisition process. Consider: countless millions are posting on the net constantly. Are the police to sit on their hands and wait until a court issues a warrant every single time someone violates the law? The court system is already hilariously overburdened. There needs to be a streamlined process that sidesteps that shit and lets the police just do whatever searches are needed based on the situation.
 

traveler

Not Wario
Beyond hate speech laws, it's not obvious to me that those who are suspected on transgressing against those laws deserve to be protected through the normal warrant acquisition process. Consider: countless millions are posting on the net constantly. Are the police to sit on their hands and wait until a court issues a warrant every single time someone violates the law? The court system is already hilariously overburdened. There needs to be a streamlined process that sidesteps that shit and lets the police just do whatever searches are needed based on the situation.

Do you really think this is a good idea? The police, of all groups?
 
No, it was a joke.

Canada doesn't have a lot of things. Like an insane christian right that wants to censor everything or islamophobes that want to take away the rights of muslims. We have a line of groups that want to chip away our rights.

I said if you want to argue the US is uniquely fucked up by all means just don't make arguments like hate speech laws lower America Values and shit like that.

In other words just don't argue it's morally good, or that part of whatnmaked the US great is to let Nazis march.
 
Our country was founded on White supremacy. White supremacy permeates our entire society. An acceptable version of it has been normalized. Most people know, whether they agree with the views, that society doesn't accept the extreme version of it and will largely stay away from it.

But if anything that cartoon proves how such laws could be misapplied, and enforced regardless of the intent of the law due to interpretation.

Honestly not sure what you want to say. We don't act based on how idiots will react.
 

Scarecrow

Member
The ACLU is working as intended. Our free speech laws are working as intended. Protest. Vote.

Laws aren't going to force bad ideas to go away. That hard work is up to society in general. Don't give the opposition the tools to more effectively subjugate others. It's a guarantee that stricter free speech laws will be perverted by the GOP and other a-holes to twist America further and faster into darkness.
 

ISOM

Member
So these laws aren't used justly and fairly, and you think hate speech laws in the GOP hands will be?

It's not only how GOP may use hate speech laws but what about regular people who don't want fucking Nazi's walking down the street want as well. You are absolutely terrified of the worst when the reality right now is heading into a terrible direction. And that is with your free speech bs.
 
Honestly not sure what you want to say. We don't act based on how idiots will react.

You're not looking at the bigger picture on how laws can come back and bite you in the ass especially in a White supremacist society. Some of ya'll are being emotional over the extreme version of it that's on the fringe and not the normalized version that permeates our society and will determine how it's enforced.
 
Beyond hate speech laws, it's not obvious to me that those who are suspected on transgressing against those laws deserve to be protected through the normal warrant acquisition process. Consider: countless millions are posting on the net constantly. Are the police to sit on their hands and wait until a court issues a warrant every single time someone violates the law? The court system is already hilariously overburdened. There needs to be a streamlined process that sidesteps that shit and lets the police just do whatever searches are needed based on the situation.
This is a satire post about what happens if we decide some groups don't deserve constitutional protections, right
 
You're not looking at the bigger picture on how laws can come back and bite you in the ass especially in a White supremacist society. Some of ya'll are being emotional over the extreme version of it that's on the fringe and not the normalized version that permeates our society and will determine how it's enforced.

/shrug
 

Mark L

Member
This is a satire post about what happens if we decide some groups don't deserve constitutional protections, right

No, it is an attempt to give a suggestion how we can deal with all the garbage that is constantly piling up on twitter, Facebook, etc.

If you have a better idea, just share it instead of being sarcastic.
 
You're not looking at the bigger picture on how laws can come back and bite you in the ass especially in a White supremacist society. Some of ya'll are being emotional over the extreme version of it that's on the fringe and not the normalized version that permeates our society and will determine how it's enforced.

It sounds like you are not looking at the big picture. Snuffing out overt white supremacy and then covert.
 
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/17/politics/trump-approvers-never-stop-approving-poll/index.html

Thats close to 40 million religiously devoted supporters of President Trump, many of whom are volatile, highly combustible extremists.
Trump is at his most dangerous while he's in the White House, but his cult following will give him an enormous capacity to stir up trouble and discord long after he's left office.
He will be a destabilising, toxic influence in American politics and culture for decades to come.

(lock if old)

This is terrifying. Not even supporting Nazis will stop them from supporting trump. Nazis!!! Gosh this country is hosed.
 

RowdyReverb

Member
"To those who support suppressing propaganda they hate, we ask — where do you draw the line?"

Dumb logic is dumb.

You draw the line at the murderous people who want to destroy the things and people you stand for.

DHbvA72XcAA7ZLN.jpg
This leads to the problem of who decides which groups have views or opinions that lead to intolerance. Yes, there are obvious cases like the group in Charlottesville where they literally label themselves as Nazis, but there could foreseeably be more grey areas where the idea could be used to squelch other views.
For instance, if you believed that somebody's economic views ultimately disenfranchise certain groups and thereby silenced their opinions, is it then reasonable to deny them a platform for free speech?

I'm not arguing against the point in the comic, just saying that it oversimplifies the solution to the problem that the ACLU faces.
 
Covert has been normalized. It's not even covert. It's normal.

So when a sizable group of the nation is energized to see a change in society for both overt (white supremacist at rallies) and covert (white supremacist statues, injustices for people of color) aspects your responses are that progress will be used against minorities therefore these efforts should stop?

That doesn't make any sense. This implies that if hate speech was outlawed and then minority advocacy is outlawed no one would speak up and demand for further progress.

But I have a feeling that you aren't going to persuaded by me nor am I by you. So we can end our conversation here or you can get the final post as a closer.
 
.. but there could foreseeably be more grey areas where the idea could be used to squelch other views..

They're going to point to BLM organizers that have ever tweeted "White Genocide", even as a joke, the Dallas shooter and that's all a conservative federal judge will need to declare BLM a hate group that needs to be rounded up.

Not a week in jail for looking at a cop wrong anymore, but 5 years for hate group sympathies because you went to a private meeting. I see this shit so clearly in my head.
 
So when a sizable group of the nation is energized to see a change in society for both overt (white supremacist at rallies) and covert (white supremacist statues, injustices for people of color) aspects your responses are that progress will be used against minorities therefore these efforts should stop?

That doesn't make any sense. This implies that if hate speech was outlawed and then minority advocacy is outlawed no one would speak up and demand for further progress.

My point is BLM can exist and speak because Hate groups can exist and speak as another poster pointed out.
 

Not

Banned
I hope they have some healthy discourse over it. It can only help.

Unless it creates an irreparable schism or something.
 

Mark L

Member
Should hate speech laws carry criminal or civil penalties? I go back and forth on it- I think criminal probably makes more sense, unless the civil penalties were extremely high, which would presumably work about the same.

Edit: how do they do it in Europe?
 
Oh God

Free speech is one thing, hate speech is another. I guess if you don't see a distinction then yeah, the ACLU seems blameless and no one should try to improve anything.

I see a distinction, but I'm Black. Extremists have nothing to do with improving anything, they are on the fringes. It's a very shallow victory you're chasing for.
 

The Wart

Member
Should be, but it doesn't. Largely because it's not illegal.

Think of all the threads on racism where hundreds of posters say something like, "yeah, racism sucks but it's not illegal" to argue against consequences for racist acts. For a lot of people, the determiner for whether something is ok or not is whether it's legal or not. That's it, and that's why you people can get lynched and killed FEET from a police station and absolutists will defend the right of the people inciting violence to keep doing so.

White supremacy is an inherently violent ideology but because it's not illegal, many have no issue with it.

You have the causal relations here exactly wrong.
 
Oh God

Free speech is one thing, hate speech is another. I guess if you don't see a distinction then yeah, the ACLU seems blameless and no one should try to improve anything.

The only thing that matters is a judge to decide which is which, actually. You know, the legal system founded on white supremacy? We lose a fuckton more than we gain with this. This fight needs to be won with words and bodies, and fighting back when we have to.

This is a fight we don't need and we can't win anyway.
 
This leads to the problem of who decides which groups have views or opinions that lead to intolerance. Yes, there are obvious cases like the group in Charlottesville where they literally label themselves as Nazis, but there could foreseeably be more grey areas where the idea could be used to squelch other views.
For instance, if you believed that somebody's economic views ultimately disenfranchise certain groups and thereby silenced their opinions, is it then reasonable to deny them a platform for free speech?

I'm not arguing against the point in the comic, just saying that it oversimplifies the solution to the problem that the ACLU faces.

All of these counter-arguments all seem to provide the same "gosh, how do you figure out who's right?" notion.

It's actually very easy, we know what "kill/beat up/deport people X" sounds like, and it's easy to articulate how that type of speech when applied purely on basis of ethnicity, religion or orientation runs counter to the laws and spirit of the country. You include certain outs for religious types, as long as they're not taking it too far.

This problem has already been solved in other first world countries.
 
The only thing that matters is a judge to decide which is which, actually. You know, the legal system founded on white supremacy? We lose a fuckton more than we gain with this. This fight needs to be won with words and bodies, and fighting back when we have to.

This is a fight we don't need and we can't win anyway.

It amazes me how some people can't see this.
 
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