Baraka_Guru

I support the right of free speech, but I also support measures to curb hate crimes. What this means is that if an actual crime takes place, whether it be minor (e.g. disturbing the peace, breach of peace, etc.) or something more serious (property damage, assault, battery, etc.), then the contributing circumstances should be taken into account. Essentially, if a crime takes place and it is proven in a court of law that it was setup, sparked, incited, aggravated, and/or prolonged by a hatred based on race, nationality, language, religion, sex, sexual orientation, etc., then that should be a cause for increased punishment.

It's one thing to be guilty of assault because you got angry at someone for something trivial; it's another thing completely to be guilty of assault because you hate gays and so beat one down.

So basically: free speech so long as no laws are broken (notwithstanding any civil suits arising from charges of defamation or slander).

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot