Free speech is the best weapon against hate speech
Free speech is the best weapon against hate speechSupporting for the Hate Speech bill is based on the belief that criminalising racist speech would “eliminate racism”. The problem is that trying to eliminate racism is like trying to pin down mercury. Racism is an expression of people’s thoughts and feelings, upbringing and experience, interactions and education — these all change over time. We argue that the Bill is unnecessary.https://freespeech.org.za/free-speech-is-the-best-weapon-against-hate-speechhttps://freespeech.org.za/free-speech-is-the-best-weapon-against-hate-speech/@@download/image/Hate, against.jpg
Supporting for the Hate Speech bill is based on the belief that criminalising racist speech would “eliminate racism”. The problem is that trying to eliminate racism is like trying to pin down mercury. Racism is an expression of people’s thoughts and feelings, upbringing and experience, interactions and education — these all change over time. We argue that the Bill is unnecessary.
This article first appeared in Daily Maverick of 12 April 2023. See link below