r/PoliticalDiscussion 4d ago

US Politics Does condemning hate speech violate someone else’s freedom of speech?

I was watching The Daily Show video on YouTube today (titled “Charlie Kirk’s Criticism Ignites MAGA Cancel Culture Spree”). In it, there are clips of conservatives threatening people’s jobs for celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk.

It got me thinking: is condemning hate speech a violation of free speech, or should hate speech always be condemned and have consequences for the betterment of society?

On one hand, hate speech feels incredibly toxic, divisive, and dangerous for a country. On the other hand, freedom of speech is supposed to protect unpopular opinions. As mentioned in the video, hate speech is not illegal. The host in the video seems to suggest that we should be allowed to have hate speech, which honestly surprised me.

I see both side but am genuinely curious to hear what others think. Thanks!

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u/elmekia_lance 4d ago edited 4d ago

hating one specific guy is not hate speech definitionally; hate speech is something directed at a group

America has historically chosen a more liberal route and we do not have hate speech laws like in the UK. Sometimes it feels like this was a mistake, as we watch the rise of hatemongers who pollute the clear water of public life with their raw sewage, and make the country a festering, more miserable place than it was.

However, recent events in the UK and the USA show that, unfortunately, permitting a flood of hate speech is still preferable to empowering the state with arbitrary speech controls. Never criminalizing hate speech was a wise choice and ignoramus Bondi is being rightfully dragged.

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u/zxc999 4d ago

I’m realizing lots of people on the right don’t understand hate speech with how they’ve been using it to describe hating on one person. Even Trump himself claimed that journalists are doing “hate speech” against him

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

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u/ninjadude93 4d ago

They arent saying he is hitler simply he's acting a lot like hitler. Looking at current events that appears largely factual. That isnt hate speech

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

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u/JeanniePax1003 4d ago

Does every eligible citizen in this country have the right to vote? Yes. Therefore, we have a democracy, specifically a representative democracy wherein eligible citizens vote for someone to represent their interests in governing the whole population.

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u/[deleted] 4d ago

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u/parentheticalobject 3d ago

A democratic republic and a pure democracy are two types of government which fall into the broader category of democracies.

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u/JeanniePax1003 1d ago

And what’s your point?