General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Limits of Free Speech [View all]Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)It's a repugnant, hateful word. It's not like we aren't all adults here or that we somehow don't know what it is you're writing. Yet, you truncated the spelling. The use of asterisks didn't diminish the sound of it in my mind. It's not like you are using that word to hurt people -- just the opposite. You are trying to affirm the principles that we are all human beings deserving freedom, respect and the right to live our lives without others taking action against us. Your intention is the best possible intentions -- and yet, you seem hesitant to speak frankly and openly.
You should be one of the last people to hesitate to speak your mind freely. Yet, here we are.
My objection isn't about worrying the word, "nigger" will fall into disuse. I'd be delighted if no one ever felt inclined to say such things ever again. My concern is good speech, proper speech -- such as yours -- will be diminished because people will become hesitant to openly speak their minds even when they ought to -- just like you.
To answer your question -- I cannot answer your question. As an anarchist I believe the law is an instrument of oppression more than it is a tool of freedom because the law is derived from people, particularly people who want power over others. That very fact makes the motives of any law suspect and so far in this thread my interlocutors have affirmed everything I told them they would say.
Laws cannot make people good. The law cannot make someone NOT follow another person around screaming racist epithets. A person who decides to do that is going to do it regardless of what the law says -- assuming the law says anything/the correct thing and anyone else is listening to the law. (However, the law might stop a good person from busting the racist in the mouth because the good person fears going to jail).
I am a person inherently born free and self-determining. Only The Law can diminish this and it always does so by force/threat of force. I am being asked to endorse some THING wherein people I do not know and have no authority over can adjudicate undefined terms by undefined standards to impose undefined punishments. I foresee much danger to people -- all people, including people of color -- in endorsing such things under such terms.