Friday, August 06, 2004
"Hate Speech" laws proposed
The NZ parliament is asking whether more "hate speech" legislation is needed.
Last year, the government added a nasty amendment to the Sentencing Act, so that punishment is more severe if the perpetrator carried out the crime on the basis of the victim's race, sexual orientation, etc. How this is supposed to be determined, and the potential for witch-hunts, are among the most obvious objections, but still it went through.
More "hate speech" laws raise up the ante even further, particularly if sexual orientation is included. Half the submissions to the government on the proposed Civil Union Bills would probably be ruled hate speech -- not because they are hateful or vitriolic, but simply because their authors hold genuine views about the damaging consequences if the Bills are passed. This is already happening in the USA and Europe, where people are being jailed for speaking against homosexuality.
The stifling of reasonable dissent is a hallmark of totalitarian governments, and most be resisted here to the utmost.
The NZ parliament is asking whether more "hate speech" legislation is needed.
Last year, the government added a nasty amendment to the Sentencing Act, so that punishment is more severe if the perpetrator carried out the crime on the basis of the victim's race, sexual orientation, etc. How this is supposed to be determined, and the potential for witch-hunts, are among the most obvious objections, but still it went through.
More "hate speech" laws raise up the ante even further, particularly if sexual orientation is included. Half the submissions to the government on the proposed Civil Union Bills would probably be ruled hate speech -- not because they are hateful or vitriolic, but simply because their authors hold genuine views about the damaging consequences if the Bills are passed. This is already happening in the USA and Europe, where people are being jailed for speaking against homosexuality.
The stifling of reasonable dissent is a hallmark of totalitarian governments, and most be resisted here to the utmost.
