Free Speech vs. Hate Speech (trying this again)

[mom0f3angels]

After seeing a post in the journals where a member severely degraded some Special Needs (disabled) children, I was fuming! It took all I had as I had written to this heartless wench to 'hold" my fingers back and keep the integrity of the post as it should be.

Then, a friend of mine and I were talking on here about the whole ordeal. Yes, she had seen what this person had written and was highly upset as well. Especially being that the both of us have Special Needs children ourselves, we don't take degrading the Disabled Community lightly.

Both my friend and I had fully agreed that there is a difference, as well as a fine line between Freedom of Speech and what would be considered as Hate Speech.

Down below, here are the CLEAR definitions of both types...

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to denote not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression is closely related to, yet distinct from, the concept of freedom of thought or freedom of conscience. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on "hate speech".

 

 

Hate speech is a term for speech intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on their race, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, language ability, ideology, social class, occupation, appearance (height, weight, hair color, etc.), mental capacity, and any other distinction that might be considered by some as a liability.

 

 

What it all boils down to is this.. You have the right to have your views and beliefs about things and people within the world. You can say things like "I hate (insert name/organization)" and give your reasons why. But, you cannot call people derogitory names, degrade the individual or the group as a whole, or to plan or act out violently against them due to their disabilities, sexual orientation, ect.

 

Everyone, even the disabled have feelings. And they can be hurt deeply, emotionally from words, not just actions that are against them.

 

My son is disabled. You can't see it on the outside. He has several mental disorders that are disabling him from leading what is classified as a "normal" life. You won't know what is wrong with him until he has an episode. In fact, take a gander at my last post to see what I mean.

 

Also, as a child, I was deemed by the state of California for YEARS as "Disabled" becuase I required to have medical equipment with me where ever my parents and I went. Yes, I even had a Handicap Parking sticker. One lady called the cops on my parents at a store because she didn't see where I was "really" disabled.

 

So, say anything that you wish against religion (or the lack of an individual's belief in religion), the disabled, your views on other's sexual orientation, race, or whatever. Just be careful of how far you let yourself go.

 

No one, in my eyes, should EVER degrade a disabled individual, their parents, or a specific disabled group as a whole. Hate begets hate. Then, it turns in to intolerance. And intolerance can turn in to violence. Violence can ultimately lead to death.

 

Think about it.

[NorahSethsMommy]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 5:39 PM

Great points  you make here and I am so gald I didnt see the post you were talking about. I would have let her have it for sure.

[older]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 5:40 PM

DEGRADING ANYONE IS WRONG REGARDLESS OF DISABILITY OR DIFFERENCE OF ANY KIND..

[halfadozenofem]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 5:47 PM

Once again, excellent post......voted up...

[LuminousMom]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 5:56 PM

EXCELLENT post. Thank you. I think more people need to stop and recognise the difference

[mom0f3angels]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 6:20 PM

Older, sadly, I have lived that life. For most of my childhood, children and ADULTS alike degraded me and my parents. One said that if it was his kid that looked like me (wires and tubes everywhere), he wouldn't bring IT out in to public.

(Original Poster)

[halfadozenofem]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 6:23 PM

mom0f3angels Nov. 8, 2008 at 5:20 PM

How flippin horrible, Missy!! That is nauseating to say the least.  I have no tolerance for such downright nastiness. When I would get into fights in school, most of the time it was with the kids who were picking on the "different" kids. I hated that they would pick on people who could not defend themselves, or had no choice in why they were the way they were.

[mom0f3angels]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 6:30 PM

Half, I did the same thing. I got in to fights on behalf of the "underdog" (disabled kids worse off that me). I saw some horrid things (like the bully who took a kid's walker who had CP and the kid fell on his face because his leg muscles were weak).

My parents had the cops called on them once from an old lady. She told the cop at the store that my dad illegally parked in a handicapped spot. Why? Because I didn't "look" handicapped. Um... my medical supplies in the back seat of the car is what let me have that spot...as did the trache and my tubes and wires (day outings required monitors on me at all times).

(Original Poster)

[halfadozenofem]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 6:37 PM

Oh my gosh, I would have beat the snot outta that kid. (maybe not the best way to handle it, but man...)

To me, adults who use their words to harm and hurt as deep as possible are the same as those bullies back in school who picked on the "weaker" kids. There is no need to be so vicious. I never have understood that, and I guess I never will.

[Mama0f3grlz]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 7:01 PM

YES!!! You are so right. I also think that our children should never EVER be brought into the equation. You may not like how another parent does things but that is no reason to involve their children.

[halfadozenofem]

Nov. 8, 2008 at 7:03 PM

YES!!! You are so right. I also think that our children should never EVER be brought into the equation. You may not like how another parent does things but that is no reason to involve their children.

Mama0f3grlz Nov. 8, 2008 at 6:01 PM

Absolutely.......