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IP: WashPost: A "hate speech" horseman of a different color
From: Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 21:37:25 -0400
With Innovative Use, the Web Empowers the First Amendment By John Schwartz Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, July 15 1996; Page F19 The Washington Post [...] Lately, though, I've gotten a nice, big dose of hope from watching hatemongers on the Net as they duke it out with the truth-squaders. In any intellectual combat, those who can support their arguments with facts are better armed. And guess what? The Internet gives us a new kind of arsenal. That might go against what you've been reading. A lot of journalists are discovering "hate speech" on the Internet -- racism, antisemitism, the whole vile package. It's the cover story for the current issue of Emerge, with the arresting image of a mouse cord tied in a noose. Such groups as the Simon Wiesenthal Center in California try to persuade publications to run stories on this loathsome trend, and they urge governments to drive those who spread messages of hate off the Net. [...] The on-line guest book at Nizkor is an evolving testament to the power of free speech. One visitor wrote: "As the child of survivors of the Holocaust I am particularly dismayed when intelligent and reasonable people are influenced by revisionist pap. I'm often frustrated to the point where I'd sooner tolerate censorship than the promulgation of neo-Nazi lies. Your work restores my faith in reasoned debate and the drive of honest people to find and spread the truth." Memo to the Founders: Thanks, guys. You got it right.
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- IP: WashPost: A "hate speech" horseman of a different color Dave Farber (Jul 15)