More Hate Speech accusations

Posted on July 25th, 2008 by Richard Catto 1,460 views

I knew this was going to happen. It’s fast becoming a new South African hobby – alleging hate speech and laying complaints with the Human Rights Commission whenever someone exercises their Free Speech to say something that offends you.

Jon Qwelane is the latest one to fall victim to this ridiculous new South African hobby.

Jon Qwelane has an absolute right to hate gays and to express his hatred for them publicly. An absolute right to do that.

He has an absolute right to offend the gay community.

He has no obligation to please anyone.

South Africa needs an amendment to our Constitution which strongly protects Freedom of Speech.

FURTHER READING:
Jon Qwelane in trouble for gay-bashing
HRC mulls Qwelane complaints

Tags: Freedom of Speech, Hate Speech, HRC, Jon Qwelane
Filed under South African politics |

8 Responses to “More Hate Speech accusations”

1. Freedom Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 07:37

   You are right… he has a right to hate and offend… but surely you don’t imply that whomever he hates and offends should just roll over and accept it. Freedom of speech goes both ways… the gay community has the right to respond. Or not?

2. sailor Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 08:32

   Jon Qwelane loves controversy. He will come out of this stronger than before. Life in SA might have many faults but entertaining it most certainly is.

   Stand up for your rights Jon – go get ‘em Tiger!

3. Richard Catto Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 14:37

   @Freedom: The problem is that Jon Qwelane is facing criminal investigation by the authorities (The South African Human Rights Commission).

   So the new deal in South Africa seems to be that if you don’t like what someone else says, then bring criminal prosecution against them.

   If this succeeds, Freedom of Speech dies in this country. Freedom of the Press dies too.

   We need to fix this by amending our Constitution to protect Hate Speech as being an essential part of Free Speech.

4. Steven Says:
   July 29th, 2008 at 10:46

   There’s a fine line between freedom of speech and freedom of HATE speech. Hate speech simply cannot and should not be tolerated!!!

5. Richard Catto Says:
   July 29th, 2008 at 11:43

   @Steven: If there’s a fine line, that means it’s difficult to differentiate.

   If Hate Speech is banned, Freedom of Speech is non-existent, because some people desire to express their hatred of things. I don’t see any good reason to prevent them from doing that.

6. Steven Says:
   July 29th, 2008 at 14:44

   @Richard The problem is not so much in people expressing their views as in the consequences of those views. When articles like Jon’s are written and they are not even properly researched they insight others to hate and even violence. With great freedom comes great responsibility (to paraphrase another saying) and I think that journalists especially have a responsibility to think (and research carefully) before mouthing off a load of rubbish that just perpetuates already negative stereotypes and reinforces already negative views that have no foundation in reality at all. It’s irresponsible.

   If I had to say that all black people where stupid and lazy and shouldn’t be allowed any rights that would be grounds for the same kind of reaction that Jon got – and rightly so – Jo of all people should know that.

   Steven

7. Richard Catto Says:
   July 29th, 2008 at 15:04

   @Steven: Incitement to violence is also protected Free Speech in the United States. Only incitement which is immediately actionable is prohibited. In other words, if the incitement can be put into immediate effect as in inciting a crowd to descend upon persons who are present during a speech.

   Writing that all gays ought to be killed is protected Free Speech.

   There’s plenty of people who hate gays. Jon Qwelane is joined by many Christians and Muslims, some of whom agree that gays should be put to death. Banning them from expressing their opinions is not going to stop them from continuing to believe what they believe.

   They have a right to their ideas and to express them, even if it offends others.

   Many people already express racist ideas, but it has been driven underground and people do it mostly anonymously now, for fear of prosecution.

   Hate speech can very easily be abused to silence political foes. Banning Hate Speech, removes our right to Free Speech. It puts us all in a cage.

   In France, for instance, Brigitte Bardot has been fined more than once already for expressing her opposition to immigrants from Africa.

   Once you outlaw Hate Speech, you open the door for the authorities to chip away at your individual liberties until you have none left, save what they want you to have.

8. AA=AfrikanerArsehole Says:
   July 29th, 2008 at 18:53

   I have had it with racist/sexist/arsehole/incompetent plumbers and their neanderthal attitude towards women.

   Specifically Mr House Plumbing in Pinegowrie, Randburg.

   I called out a plumber on 08/07/08 because main drain was blocked. Ditto 16/07/08 for same problem. I told them I could not be at home on both occasions because I work for a living, so the maid let them in, and they must just get on with fixing the plumbing.

   Now hear this carefully: for ELDERLY WHITE PLUMBERS, this means, Screw The Liberal White Bitch Over. DON’T fix it the first time. If the bitch won’t stay at home, hey, DON’T FIX THE PROBLEM! She deserves it. Having her maid there, what a cheek. SHE SHOULD BE THE MAID. Fuck her earning potential.

   So that’s R390 for the first call out charge. Fuck all done, of course. The next invoice reflects a charge of R150 for “replacing a ball valve”. No charge for unblocking of drain. Bad conscience? Definitely. But the total for the second bill still comes to R540.

   Avoid these cunts. Australia’s loss, South Africa’s gain if they finally piss off.

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