Brendan O'Neill discusses the anti-free speech laws starting to emerge in Great Britain. The list is frightening and makes one ponder the future of free expression.
Today it is reported that Brighton and Hove in southern England might soon become the first city in Britain to prohibit art that ‘incites racist, homophobic or sectarian violence’. Ostensibly, Brighton council’s target is ‘murder music’: Jamaican dancehall and rap songs that have anti-gay lyrics. If the council’s proposals are ratified next week, then any venue that plays ‘murder music’ will have its licence revoked...
Dee Simson, chairman of Brighton council’s licensing committee, says: ‘I’m a firm believer in freedom of speech but I’m against the incitement of hatred against minorities.’
Such assaults of free speech are always well-intentioned. Let's face it; good people really don't want anyone offended. We want everyone to be happy. We want people to feel good.
Unfortunately, these types of bans wind up doing more harm than good. What if we'd had "hate speech" bans during the Abolitionist Movement and declaring slavery barbaric was included? Could Uncle Tom's Cabin have been racist because of its stereotypical portrayals? What about other classics like Huckleberry Finn?
I'm a big fan of free speech, including the right to protest things one dislikes. If Brits truly dislike Jamaican murder music, they can protest in front of stores which sell the stuff. They can disallow it in their own home and teach their children why it is wrong. They can blog about the disgusting nature of the music. They can write letters to the editor and columns on the subject, maybe even getting on the news. But ban it? That's, well, un-American. ;)
O'Neill's column has more and is fabulous.
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