Commentary
-
Our commentary partners will help you reach your own conclusions on complex topics.
Okay.
Tucker Carlson says hate speech is not real. It’s made up basically, it’s not an actual thing. Listen, we can disagree politically. We can disagree on ideology, methodology, we can disagree on sentiment and even values. But we should all agree that hate speech is a very real thing. And hate speech has been used by individuals in ways that create dissension, not coalitions, in the United States of America.
So Tucker Carlson made this outrageous statement, he said, and I quote, “what is hate speech, by the way?” All of a sudden, everyone in the media has sort of, without explaining why, agree that there’s a thing called hate speech. That’s real and probably actionable. They can find a billion dollars judgment against you if you commit hate speech.” No, they can’t. But that’s a lie he decided to tell.
He goes on to say, “but just to remind everyone watching, there’s no such thing as hate speech.” He continued, “Hate speech is speech. People hate, usually, the people in power.”
So let me highlight the lack of intellectual integrity and probably intellectual prowess of Tucker Carlson. He literally says hate speech does not exist. Then he says it does exist in the context of speech that people hate. Well, that’s not how it works. But he does acknowledge hate speech does exist in a certain context. But then he goes on to say that hate speech is typically hated by the people in power.
Now, that will be news to people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who had hate speech hurled at him. He was not a man in power. He was a man striving and advocating for black people in America to have fair wages, for black people in America to have equal opportunity and access. And by extension, those who may not be black, but who were poor, working and trying to live the American dream. Now remember, Tucker Carlson’s basis here, his proclamation, the platform, says hate speech does not exist. Now, why is he doing this? Why is he saying this?
It is the pretext to create the context for what they will do next. The pretext is, let’s allow all language, even language that offends, as part of our social mainstream. Here’s the reality.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequence. Those are not the same. Just because you have the ability to say hateful things, does not mean there will not be a consequence to the hateful speech you spew.
Additionally, hate speech is a real thing. The word or the terminology is not a legal term of art. It is a descriptor in our social construct. We have determined that certain language, that racist language in particular, is in fact hate speech. But since Tucker Carlson is unable to understand what hate speech is, since he questions if it even exists, I have decided to provide some education for little Tuck Tuck. So hate speech, Tucker, is abusive or threatening speech or a writing that expresses prejudice against a particular group, especially on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation. Now Tucker, just in case you are confused about what the Constitution says about speech, let me remind you. The Constitution First Amendment says clearly, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech.
Is there a law against the speech that you are talking about? No. Is there consequence in certain context? Yes. If you decide to be a hateful individual, racist or prejudiced, if you decide to be that person, well, you may have a consequence. You see, these are lessons we teach our children. This is normative stuff.
We tell our children, “Listen, don’t say that that’s mean.” Why do we tell our children that? Because we know that there will be a societal impact based on immature or hateful language. We understand it. Now all of a sudden, conservatives want to live in a world where they have freedom of speech and freedom from consequence. Doesn’t work that way, little Tuck Tuck.
-
Trump’s own behavior betrays his guilt
Donald Trump recently summoned his supporters to show up and disrupt the criminal proceedings against him in court. Although few supporters actually showed up to defend the former president, the call reminded some Americans of his rhetoric surrounding Jan. 6, 2021. Straight Arrow News contributor Dr. Rashad Richey argues that Trump is revealing himself as…
-
Support democracy or Trump, but you can’t do both
U.S. liberals trace their original suspicion and distrust of Donald Trump back to a series of red flags raised early in the 2016 campaigns. The red flags include several instances where Trump said that he would only accept the results of an election if he wins. Years later, on January 6, 2021, Americans watched that…
-
There is no GOP, there is only MAGA
Donald Trump faces a range of potential criminal charges across numerous cases, from minor civil suits all the way up to sedition and conspiracy against the United States. The former president has consistently portrayed himself as a victim of political “witch hunts” and has sought to delay his court dates to avoid criminal sentencing prior…
-
Narrative of Jan. 6 attack reveals conservative bias, spin
On Jan. 6, 2021, supporters of then-President Donald Trump overpowered police and federal officers, broke into the U.S. Capitol, and then searched the Capitol and surrounding areas for specific Congress members to kill or take hostage in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. While some took to social media and threatened…
-
Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel grifted her way into NBC
Just a week after NBC hired former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel as a political contributor, a wave of public outcry from several of the network’s stars compelled it to reverse its decision. McDaniel had joined shortly after stepping down from her role at the RNC, where she had vocalized support for former President Donald Trump’s…
Latest Opinions
-
Biden uses NFL draft ad to try to connect with young voters
-
Powering pot: Energy for US cannabis industry could electrify 13.5M homes
-
Allies plan for Trump to have more control over interest rates
-
FDA: Bird flu found in 1/5 commercial milk samples, suggests greater spread
-
China permanently deploys warships to second overseas base
Popular Opinions
-
In addition to the facts, we believe it’s vital to hear perspectives from all sides of the political spectrum.