“Grave social harm”

One of the great glories of the American system is that the Constitution recognizes that scumbags have the right to publicize their scumbaggery. Unpopular speech, even truly dumbass unpopular speech, is and should be protected; only when speech rises to the level of intentionally inciting violence should it be restrained. But the European systems of governance disagree. Pro-Nazi or anti-Jewish speech, for example, is banned in Germany; while this is a clear violation of the concept of free speech, it is at least understandable. But Britain *also* has such whackjob laws, as demonstrated here:

Pair jailed for web race crimes

Simon Sheppard, 51, of Selby in North Yorkshire, received four years and 10 months, and Stephen Whittle, 42, of Preston, two years and four months.

The men printed leaflets and controlled US websites featuring racist material. …

The men were charged with publishing and distributing racially inflammatory material, and possessing racially inflammatory material with a view to distribution. …

Judge Rodney Grant told the men their material was “abusive and insulting” and had the potential to cause “grave social harm”.

He added: “Such offences as these have, by their very nature, the potential to cause grave social harm, particularly in a society such as ours which has, for a number of years now, been multi-racial.

These two yahoos apparently distributed holocaust-denial rubbish. No evidence was given, at least in this article, that they were advocating violence; just historical lies and racist rubbish. And for this they’ve been sentenced to years in prison. As for the potential to cause “grave social harm,” I’ll note that it is perfectly legal to publish Holocaust denial nonsense in the US, and yet I’d wager that Jews in the US are probably as safe or safer than Jews in Europe.

I will also note the asymmetrical response to religious intolerance. These two chuckleheads were prosecuted. How about these idjits:

The measure of a wise society is not how far it will go to force people to not say offensive things. The measure is how well it *tolerates* offensive things. What the world needs is not more sensitivity… but more insensitivity. Do not arrest those who say stupid things (“The Holocaust was a hoax,” “Evolution is a lie,” “Islam will dominate the world,” “Socialism is a good idea,” “Gun control works,” etc.) . Instead… point at them and laugh. Laugh out loud. Laugh hard and long. Mock them mercilessly. Wave bacon at them, if that’s what’ll drive ’em bonkers. It’s only when violence is advocated (“Behead those who insult Islam,” etc.) that the cops should go in Tasers a’blazin’ and arrest people and put them on trial.

“You are too weak to live with freedom.”   If you agree with that concept, then, great, support speech codes and anti-racism laws and “hate crime” legislation. Otherwise… laugh at these jackholes, and demand that your government support freedom rather than sensitivity.