There's growing concern that German society is becoming increasingly polarized. The question of how to treat the AfD party threatens to further deepen the divide.
I have an idea: Poll all the pro-authoritarian people in other governments, like Trump, Vance, Putin, Kim, Xi, etc. on their opinion about AfD being shut down.
Do the opposite of what they say.
I know we must defend free speech, and everyone has a right to their opinion. But even more importantly, “my freedom ends where other people’s freedom starts”.
Free speech =/= hate speech, and hate speech disguised as free speech should always be restricted. Because the point of said hate speech is usually to restrict opposing ideas once it takes control. And Germany knows that better than most. Never lose sleep over silencing hate speech.
It never ends at “I am free to hate others if I don’t act on it”. If given the chance to hate without real repercussions the hateful ones will always take any excuse to act on said hate. That’s the one irony about unrestricted free speech - it tends to find a way to eventually restrict itself again through festering hate, in time.
I have an idea: Poll all the pro-authoritarian people in other governments, like Trump, Vance, Putin, Kim, Xi, etc. on their opinion about AfD being shut down.
Do the opposite of what they say.
I know we must defend free speech, and everyone has a right to their opinion. But even more importantly, “my freedom ends where other people’s freedom starts”.
Free speech =/= hate speech, and hate speech disguised as free speech should always be restricted. Because the point of said hate speech is usually to restrict opposing ideas once it takes control. And Germany knows that better than most. Never lose sleep over silencing hate speech.
It never ends at “I am free to hate others if I don’t act on it”. If given the chance to hate without real repercussions the hateful ones will always take any excuse to act on said hate. That’s the one irony about unrestricted free speech - it tends to find a way to eventually restrict itself again through festering hate, in time.