Bush commutes Libby sentence

[Jester]

Freedom of speech is freedom of speech. You can't really stifle someone because you don't like what they have to say. Yes, there are certain limits, but those have to do with inciting people to violence or causing a clear danger (the famous litmus test of shouting "fire" in a crowded theater). Preaching something that could be considered hateful is protected speech. The KKK does it all the time. Louis Farakhan (sp?) and the more militant members of the Nation of Islam also do it.

The Constitution of the United States doesn't apply outside its borders. That definition of what is and is not covered by free speech is not necessarily universal.

The countries of Europe, as eppie points out, particularily those that participated (willingly or not) in the holocaust often have strong anti-hate speech laws. In those countries, hate speech is considered an incitement to violence. The kind of racist screeds the KKK (and Louis Farrakhan, for that matter) is famous for would get you thrown in jail.

Whether this is a good thing or not is an open question. It certainly has upsides and downsides. I myself fall in favour of a very broad definition of free speech. But the Americans do not own the philosophical concept of free speech. Every country gets to define for itself where to draw the line.

-Jester