The Importance Of Hate Speech

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In the 1960's, there was a battle for all speech to be protected on campus. Three thousand students surrounded a police car, and protested Berkeley’s ban on political activities on campus. This movement, along with others around the country, created a long lasting tradition of open discussion and debate between students and faculty members. However, fast forward 50 years and one will find something quite different. At Berkeley, where the free speech movement began, it has become commonplace for political groups' speech to be limited, or even taken away by campus administrators. Campuses are going against not only the Constitution, but also core academic values by limiting students' free speech. Universities are by their own nature places of…show more content…
Their main reason is that “hate speech” physically affects others, and limits their freedom to think. George Lakoff, a professor of Cognitive Science at Berkeley says, "All thought is carried out by neural circuitry — it does not float in air. Language neurally activates thought. Language can thus change brains, both for the better and the worse. Hate speech changes the brains of those hated for the worse, creating toxic stress, fear and distrust — all physical, all in one’s neural circuitry active every day. This internal harm can be even more severe than an attack with a fist. It imposes on the freedom to think and therefore act free of fear, threats, and distrust. It imposes on one’s ability to think and act like a fully free citizen for a long time."(Lakoff, 1) The science is clear that hate speech does have bad effects on people, but what is hate speech? Who decides it? According to the American bar Accosiation, hate speech is, “speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits.” Often times, hate speech is labeled by left leaning and student administartors. Milo Yiannoupolus, and Ann Coulter, both right leaning speakers, were heavily protested, and many students and faculty members begged the administration to disinvite them. Countries such as the U.K., and Canada have restrictions on free speech. These…show more content…
In four years, no one will be protecting them anymore. It is not beneficial for students to be coddled for four years. If they want to be protected from the supposedly damaging effects of free speech, there are other solutions than taking away another student's right. First, they can chose not to attend the event, or pay attention to the speaker. Shutting down speakers elevates their message and frees them from having their ideas scrutinized.To accomplish that goal, students can and should engage in counterprogramming, creating alternative events and gathering spaces. This creates a constructive way to share your views, while opposing

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