Hate speech is often despicable, but Freedom Of Speech has traditionally been taken very, very, VERY seriously in the US.
Personally, I feel it's a dangerous mistake to start policing hate speech, and I don't want to see it happen. I think the freedom to express whatever position you want on an issue, no matter how reprehensible, is crucial to the ideals of the nation.
If that means fringe groups say awful things, so be it. For me that's infinitely better than the alternative.
There's also the case where the ACLU defended the right of neo-nazis to march in a town with a heavy Jewish population. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_Liberties_Union#...
Hate speech is often despicable, but Freedom Of Speech has traditionally been taken very, very, VERY seriously in the US.
Personally, I feel it's a dangerous mistake to start policing hate speech, and I don't want to see it happen. I think the freedom to express whatever position you want on an issue, no matter how reprehensible, is crucial to the ideals of the nation.
If that means fringe groups say awful things, so be it. For me that's infinitely better than the alternative.