October 29, 2014 8:28 AM

Free speech can be offensive, objectionable...and unpopular...speech

A rally was held…in Springfield, Oregon, with citizens pushing back against a man who distributed racist “diversity is white genocide” at a local high school earlier in the week, reports KMTR. A man identifying himself as Jimmy Marr attended the rally and took credit for the flyers, explaining he was trying to “breakthrough the media blackout with white genocide… (and get) a chance to say my piece and get exposure so people know what white genocide is.”…. Marr, who maintains an account at white supremacist website Stormfront, explained that “white genocide” partially refers to how the U.S. was founded by white Europeans, and how minorities have changed U.S. culture.

There’s a fallacy popular among Conservatives, racists, sexists, and/or others with viewpoints generally considered disturbing that we must respect their opinion. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s true that every American has a RIGHT to an opinion. What they don’t have is the right to demand that we respect that opinion.

If someone airs an opinion that is generally offensive, ignorant, wrong and/or hurtful and denigrating, there’s no corresponding right to expect that opinion to be condoned or even tolerated. Jimmy Marr is certainly free to his convictions and to express them if he chooses, but he can’t claim offense or persecution when his racist opinions are roundly rejected. A person has every right to hold and voice an opinion, and his audience has every right to push back if they feel it’s wrong, inappropriate, and/or offensive.

That Marr experienced rejection only serves to indicate that the Springfield community doesn’t care to tolerate or condone racism. Perhaps there’s hope for humanity after all.

Last year, Marr and some associates displayed banners on a bridge over a major freeway reading, “Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white.” According to Marr, his viewpoint is part of the diversity of the area, saying, “This is where old hippies go to die, right? And we honor diversity, so it’s time people can honor mine.”

Sorry, but airing an opinion does not ipso facto translate to a requirement that said opinion be respected or honored. Racism and hate speech don’t come with “no blowback guarantees.” The right to free speech doesn’t come with the right to expect acceptance.

I’m glad that the Springfield community stood up and called Marr out. He needs to understand that honor and respect is something that’s earned, not something to be expected simply because you toss your opinion out into the ether. A community has the right, and arguably a responsibility, to stand up for values it holds dear. In this case, rejecting racism and divisiveness was an appropriate way to respond to Marr.

While speaking with reporters, Marr was surrounded by protestors who described his message as disturbing and hateful.

“There is no place for (those comments) here,” said Dr. Hertica Martin, the Superintendent of Springfield Schools. “We cannot continue to hate other people and so we need to make sure we are working together as a community in order to bring people together and let them know this is a safe place.”

Michael Carrigan, program director for the Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC) and the father of a daughter adopted from India, rejected Marr’s views.

“I’m here to tell teens I have their back. I have my daughter’s back, and I have the back of those kids at Springfield high school.” he said.

Following the rally, attendees spread out through the neighborhood handing out “Hate Free Zone” flyers and speaking with neighbors.

Hate speech may in most cases be protected speech under the 1st Amendment, but it doesn’t come with a guarantee of approval and acceptance. Free speech can be, and very often is, objectionable and offensive speech…at which point the audience is free to react and voice their opinion and reject the objectionable and/or offensive speech. Full credit to the people of Springfield who did exactly that. It’s good to know that there are people out there who will stand up to those who sow hate speech and divisiveness and make it clear that’s not what their community stands for.

Don’tcha just LOVE America??

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on October 29, 2014 8:28 AM.

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