While the beliefs that these people express may seem sick and demented to most people, to some these beliefs are as sacred as the words of the Bible to a Christian. People like Matt Hale, minister of a white supremacist religious group based in Illinois known as the World Church of the Creator, believe spreading their hateful beliefs represents their sole purpose as humans. Proponents of allowing these hate sites on the web would argue that society should not disallow this person's voice solely because they do agree with their views.
Matt Hale, World Church of the Creator
T.J. Leyden is former neo-nazi skin head who is now involved with the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, a non-profit organization dedicated to combating hate. As someone who has been on both sides of hate groups, he knows better than anyone the dynamics of hate groups. He now has devoted his entire life to trying to stop them,(more on T.J. in the con section). However, when asked by me online if he felt that these hate sites should be allowed on the internet, he had this to say: "While I do not agree with the views of these people, it is not place to make the decision on the opinions of others."
In fact, a majority of the hate web site debate focuses around the First Amendment of the Constitution. Although in contemporary American society hate groups have few supporters, the word censorship still sends a chill through many Americans' bones. "The problem with censorship of any kind, even that of hate groups is the question, 'where do you draw the line?'" says Colette Richardson, history teacher and Multi-cultural director at Menlo School in Atherton, California. "It starts with hate groups, but then what next?"
Although they find hate web sites absolutely repugnant, Richardson and many others like her worry that censoring hate groups would start a trend of censorship or make a statement that censorship can be done if the government feels the material is damaging. If the government censors hate web sites, then why cannot the censor pornography, or anti-american propaganda, or limit the voice of the American citizen because they may say something that could "rock the boat." And although Richardson wishes hate web sites did not exist, she shows no willingness to even slightly risk her freedom of speech to accomplish that goal.
Although not designed for this purpose, hate sites also have use educational tools. Richardson says she took her students to the Klu Klux Klan home page with the purpose of opening her students eyes to the views ofthis group. She said that she exposed the idiocy of the web site by taking her students through and pointing out questionable logic. In the case of herclass, a web site designed to promote hate actually had the opposite effect."As educators, it is our job to guide students in the right direction. Their will be an abundance of information no matter what area you choose toresearch. We can help students determine what and what is not valid. This web site enabled me to give students examples of the flaws of that particular groups beliefs."
"When you expose hate groups for what they are," he says, "people are enticed to get involved to stop them," says Robert Arena, a political Internet expert with Presage Internet Campaigns in Alexandria, Virginia.
Another positive aspect of hate web sites that I was made aware of by Ms. Richardson was that, because of the fact that these groups make theirinformation public allows everyone to "know their next move." "If a hate organization is planning something, then I want to know aboutit. If they are expressing a new idea or doing something new, that definitely is something that I have interest in."
For better or for worse, the internet has become a representation of modern society. It has become the one place where every group, from the government to small town company can each have a voice. By limiting thevoice of a hate group, we would be limiting what most feel to be a worthless opinion, but an opinion none the less.
The United States of America, has built itself on the idea of freedom of speech and expression. Most feel that this codeallows the U.S.A. to achieve true greatness, for a society in which peoplesopinions are repressed does not deserve to be called a society. But withfreedom of speech comes responsibility. Unfortunately, freedom of speechoften allows opinions to be expressed which a majority of society does notwant to hear. But it is the job of society to have enough intelligence tounderstand the problems with what they are hearing. The solution to combating hate and promoting tolerance is not to eliminate hate web sites, but to make sure that Americans understand the frailties with these web sites.
World Church of the Creator- A website dedicated to the advancement of the white race Westburough Church- an extreme anti-homosexual website Racist Jokes- a less serious site, but dangerous none the less |
