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Homework answers / question archive / Hate speech is a complex and controversial concept
Hate speech is a complex and controversial concept. The ideas and conversations that we will be addressing in our argument essay about this do not have a "right" answer. Free speech is a basis of our society. Hate speech, though, is harmful and can be especially so to young students on college campuses. Just to give you a recent example: there have been hateful Zoom bombings during Black History Month events that have left students feeling unwelcome or even traumatized.
An exception to free speech protections include speech that incites violence, but it can be difficult to draw the line to say when speech has done that. There is a lot to consider, and I hope our discussion this week will get us thinking more critically about all of the different parts to this debate.
Because this concept is controversial, please remember to be extra considerate and polite when it comes to opposing viewpoints.
Step 1: Watch!
Step 2: Post Your Response to the Discussion Board by Wednesday
Please respond to all three questions in 250-300 words (together, not each).
How do you think campuses should handle controversial speakers? Should speakers who might be engaging in hate speech be allowed to speak on college campuses?
As part of the Cuyamaca College Conduct of Conduct. a student might face disciplinary action of he or she is found to be "engaging in intimidating conduct or bullying against another student through words or actions, including direct physical contact; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling; social isolation or manipulation; and cyberbullying." Cuyamaca College is a public college, so first amendment rules apply. How does this rule fit within the first amendment protections? Does it violate free speech? If you think no, explain why. If you think yes, should we still have it anyway, for the protection of our students?
Discussion: Free Speech
My thought on what constitutes speech that incites violence is speech that has been spoken and that the target audience responds to by manifesting violence upon the person targeted by the speech. So the proof lies in the physical manifestations of hate speech. If someone, for example, says in a crowd pointing to someone: Attack him!" and the rest of the audience attacks that person, then that can be considered speech that incites violence and the proof is on the trigger –words that instigated violence that resulted in injury or death of an individual or more than one person. This suggestion is also in line with those illustrated by the narrator in the Above the Noise 2018 YouTube film on free speech.
Campuses can handle controversial speakers by placing a platform for debate for them against those who think contrary. This is because the first amendment allows for free speech in public universities and this free speech applies to even controversial speaking. By enabling free speech to tackle hate speech, therefore, by creating platforms for debates like school debates, these controversial speakers might have a forum in which they can be proven otherwise of their beliefs. This would also be a subtle way of handling controversial speakers without breaking the law.
I think verbal assaults and intimidating conduct or bullying using words are not protected by the free speech prescribed by the first amendment as it harms the targeted person (s) –psychological harm. Therefore, Cuvamaca college must hold disciplinary action against students perpetrating verbal attacks on other students to protect the psychological state of all the students in their environment.
