Thomas Jefferson once wrote that truth “has nothing to fear from” conflict.
But the truth will not prevail in a world that prevents the conflict of ideas by suppressing speech.
Little plans fast-track review of hate speech laws
..Hate speech has been used to punish and exclude people for hundreds of years (including recently in France). It has been free speech – a reliable friend to minorities – that has stood firm to protect them and their views.
As a society, we must be careful not to destroy one right in pursuit of the protection of another. As Noam Chomsky wrote:
“It is a truism, hardly deserving discussion, that the defence of the right of free expression is not restricted to ideas one approves of, and that it is precisely in the case of ideas found most offensive that these rights must be most vigorously defended.”
Censorship or punishment of hate speech often leads to repression of free speech – the equivalent of spraying the weeds and hitting the surrounding green grass. It breeds fear, conformity and reduces debate and discussion.
By contrast, freedom of speech is an enabler of other rights – social and economic as well as cultural and educational. Indeed, the history of human development of thought and creativity is the history of free thought and expression.
Freedom of speech is a prerequisite and a facilitator – a foundation and cornerstone of a democratic civil society. Arguably, it’s one of the most important discussions that a society can have: Freedom of expression is the basis of many other civil rights. However, protecting freedom of speech means that you have to accept the right of people to say hateful things.
” freedom of speech could be considered to be “the most important cornerstone of a liberal democracy”.
Justice Muir
“Without it you have no rule of law, you have nothing else,”
My Grandparents told me after WWII NZ’ers made social agreements with each other.
They agreed if our government ever censored us we would all march on parliament the next day, drag them onto the steps and give them the beating of their lives and tell them they were fired.
They said the same if they every criminalized Opinion in NZ because those were two things the Nazi’s did and they had to be the hard lines never crossed to stop a Nazi type government rising in NZ.
We were told millions of young me died for those rights in WWII and if those rights were breached it would be to throw away the sacrifice of millions of young men who died for you.
Our military people on the ground level need to be reminded of that.
NZ needs to remember the sacred Promises NZ’ers made to each other to stop the rise of any potential Nazi type government in NZ.
No one has to obey Government Law. You only have to obey common Law. Every Judge and Lawyer and Politicians in the nation knows it. We have been betrayed.
The act of using Deception to trick people into being subject to Government Commercial law is Unlawful. The Law commission has betrayed us.
We are expected to follow laws yet you are never supplied the rules or mechanisms. An obvious con job when you look at it. Even worse when you learn how the Law in NZ works. Our government is deceiving us and obtaining money as a result. Mass fraud.
By censoring Full knowledge of the Law to the common person we have been manipulated and our government has taken power over us they did not have a right to.
Thankyou so much for exercising your freedom of speech. Be assured Uncensored is working hard to keep informed of all developments. It is very concerning that something as vital as freedom of speech could be damaged by the “fast tracking” of law changes. Once something has been made law it is very difficult alter or undo, so such changes should be carried out properly rather than rushed through at a time when emotions are running high and folk are distracted. These intended changes are being pushed through far too hastily for my liking and I am aware of biased political interests at work: This should be done in a balanced manner and a fair and equal mix of participants involved in any decision making. Defining what constitutes “hate speech” is a tricky business: Every time one opens one’s mouth, one risks offending someone.
I feel someone is attempting to silence political and ideological debate and opposition, but we shall have to see how the situation evolves and let our voices be heard.