ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 8 months ago
“Speech crimes”
The bill says “advocating genocide”
That counts as speech crime. Freedom of speech isnt just good speech or the speech you like or even the speech that isnt horrible, its all speech. Otherwise, its not free at all.
To quote Picard, “With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.”
The moment you censor that first opinion, not matter how justified you think you are, you oppress everyone.
Okay but in the US people can go to jail for death threats. Is that speech crime? Is that the first link in the chain? Or is that a reasonable law?
Yeah, speech can’t cause a reasonable person to have a reasonable fear of harm. Like, calling in a bomb scare. I don’t know the exact parameters, but it’s established that there are forms of speech that are not permissible.
Right. So there are forms of speech that are not permissible.
The argument then isn’t “I don’t agree with this law banning calls for genocide because I’m against all forms of speech restrictions”. The argument is really “I don’t agree with this law banning calls for genocide because I don’t see calls for genocide as something that should be banned.” The latter argument is difficult to justify though, which is why the former argument is used by a lot “free speech absolutionists”.
The moment you censor that first call to exterminate all jews, no matter how justified you think you are, you oppress everyone.
Plenty of “speech crimes” that are illegal in the US already. For instance, threatening people. If you say to someone “I am going to assault you”, yes, that’s a crime, and you can be prosecuted and face prison time.
Kaboom@reddthat.com 8 months ago
Yes, and do you honestly think it will stop there? Human rights in Canada are dead, and Trudeau killed them.
PeepinGoodArgs@reddthat.com 8 months ago
The right to…checks notes…advocate genocide is dead and you think it’s a slippery slope?
I mean, that tracks with the conservative understand of language as another frontier in the competition of life, but still…well, let me ask you a question:
Would who defend my right to advocate for the genocide of white people? (To be crystal clear, I’m not doing that, nor do I ever intend to do that, or even support anyone that would do that)
Kaboom@reddthat.com 8 months ago
Free speech is dead in Canada. Guess what, speech falls under the category of speech.
PeepinGoodArgs@reddthat.com 8 months ago
Your position is indefensible unless you’re willing to endure genocidal calls against a group in which you’re included. I’m not saying you’re wrong or right, I’m merely asking if you’re consistent. You have your out: just answer yes to my question.
So, I ask again: Would you defend my (or anyone else’s) right to advocate for the genocide of a group in which you are included?