Denial by Making an Issue Abstract (about 'Hate' Speech)

Submitted by Ron Thompson (France), Mar 17, 2013 at 08:09

Denial has many aspects, as Daniel Pipes has shown in this excellent article. Another large aspect of Denial is the growing pressure by Muslims in the OIC and United Nations to criminalize so-called hate speech and incitement-to-violence speech, which is being shamefully responded to by the creeping acceptance of self-censorship in Western countries, including the world's chief bastion of Free Speech, the United States.

The only way this appalling development makes sense is if the subject is being debated in the abstract, as if it were the topic of some kind of rarified seminar without a real world context.

Whatever argument there might be for legislating against 'hate' speech (and I doubt there is any) the very last people who should be listened to on this topic are Muslims. Instead of allowing ourselves to be put on the Defensive on this issue, our leaders should have said, let any Sharia-based Muslim State come up with a firm and clear prohibition against hate speech in their country directed at Jews and Christians. After we see such a law in action in, for instance Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, or Turkey, then get back to us.

It is an astonishing display of nerve, or hutzpah if you will, that MUSLIMS dare to become indignant about Hate speech with a straight face.. And it is eqaully astonishing that anyone in the West, let alone our political leaders, were foolish and gullible enough to take this brazen initiative seriously.

Having done so means that we have suffered another serious strategic defeat, which can only be covered up by sinking even deeper into Denial, and therefore moving farther from Reality.

Ron Thompson

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