The United Nations has added a page on its official website which provides “tips” on how to deal with “hate speech.” In a Tweet promoting this page, the UN states that, “words can be weapons” and that we should “say no to hate.”
To be clear: everyone should be courteous and respectful when speaking both online and in-person. Civil discourse is a healthy component of a free society, and differing viewpoints should be discussed in a kind manner. That being said, words are not violence. Speech does not result in physical harm, and acting as if it does is incredibly threatening to our free society.
Stochastic terrorism, “the public demonization of a person or group resulting in the incitement of a violent act, which is statistically probable but whose specifics cannot be predicted” is the new attack phrase used to label conservatives who participate in free speech that is deemed “hateful.” Words will always be interpreted differently by different individuals, and calling an opinion, which does not explicitly call for violence, a form of terrorism is nonsensical and counterproductive. If a person does not specifically make a call to action, then it is not fair to hold them responsible for the violent acts of others who cite their speech.
For example, when Congressman Steve Scalise was shot by a Bernie Sanders supporter, it was not Senator Sanders’ fault, because he did not explicitly call for that violence to occur.
“Hate speech” is an increasingly common term that is broadly used to describe speech the left does not agree with. When you hear the slogan “hate speech is not free speech,” it is because they want to shut down ideas they disagree with, and cannot compete with. After all, when you say that words are violence, it justifies censorship. But violence is a crime, free speech is not. The best way to fight bad ideas is with better ideas. Simply labeling speech you dislike as “hate speech” is not effective and disproving rhetoric you disagree with.
The UN was slammed for hypocrisy on social media following this tweet. The intergovernmental organization is eager to talk about “hate speech,” but has failed to take any effective action on the human rights violations by China and Russia (two countries that remain members of the UN Security Council).
Free speech has always been an essential aspect of our society, attempting to suppress personal opinions should remain in Orwellian fiction, rather than a blueprint for leftists utopian future.
So many members of Gen Z are intimidated by the powers that be, consistently calling any conservative views hateful and even an ominous “threat” to democracy. But the only way to ensure that people remain free is to speak the truth, even when being met with harsh opposition.
