On Hate Speech

A very simple thought for all of you today. One of the most beloved of all rights (interestingly enough, especially to liberals) is our Freedom of Speech listed in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

I propose to you, that this protects all speech. Annoying speech. Angry speech. Dissident speech. Boring speech. And yes...hate speech. Hatred is value-based...it is the estimation of value, a mere thought. Just as we cannot mandate love, we cannot outlaw hate. Governments and societies are leaning this way these days, and the world inches towards the classic Orwellian nightmare. So just as liberals trumpet their right of free speech to justify criticism of America and denunciation of Bush as Hitler Incarnate, they must accept the hate speech of others as well. It is no crime. It could be unwise in our estimation, but the espousal of thoughts and opinions is entirely within the liberty of any American, regardless of what those thoughts or opinions may be.

I will take this to its extreme to provoke some reflection. Racism...not racism in policy or practice, but purely the inner sentiment and opinions of racism...is constitutionally protected, lawful, and within the rights of all of us as Americans. I greedily await your well-thought out responses to this seemingly horrendous statement!