Ellen Goodman Hate Speech
Seventy years ago the concentration camps created by Adolf Hitler were liberated. Unspeakable horrors took place and Americans learned about man’s inhumanity, the disturbing crematoriums, and trains that arrived right in front of the gas chambers. The terrible history has more recently be compared to current events. Ellen Goodman, author of the short essay Becoming Desensitized to Hate Words, has long been an opponent of using Hitlerian language and other hate speech in everyday language. Her essay briefly discusses the improper analogies that people in the present are making and she states her claim that the horrors during World War 2 far outweighed any situation that is occurring presently. The use of Hitlerian language and other hate speech
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There is a fine line in what is considered freedom of speech and what impedes on another person’s freedom. In fact John Stuart Mill states in his book On Liberty, “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others” (1978, 9). The use of hate speech has a strong impact, especially in minority groups where the support system is not very strong. One example hate speech being persecuted is in an article from the website Grapevine titled Ten Charged with Hate Speech Towards LGBT Community. While some individuals may argue that the freedom of speech is the right of all Americans, there are definitely limits when it comes to the hatred and harassment of a particular group. The law enacted which included sexual orientation in the group where hate speech is not allowed stemmed from the fact that the suicide rate for LGBT teens is much higher than it is for other teens. The Trevor project found LGBT teens are 4 times more likely to attempt …show more content…
One example of semantic drift is the word nostalgia; its original meaning literally translated to “homecoming pain” and the word was originally used to refer to an ailment or sickness. The word had a much more negative connotation. Now the word has a more positive connotation to it and gives the meaning of good memories. The terms used during World War 2 are going through the same shift. Goodman describes in her article, “Every domineering high school principal is accused of running a ‘concentration camp.’ Every overbearing piece of of behavior becomes a ‘Gestapo’ tactic. And every political disagreement becomes a fight against evil.” The words have already begun to devalue as they are compared to everyday situations. The terms are used more as a metaphor and not for the intended purpose, which was to convey the tragedy and horror from the
There is a fine line in what is considered freedom of speech and what impedes on another person’s freedom. In fact John Stuart Mill states in his book On Liberty, “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others” (1978, 9). The use of hate speech has a strong impact, especially in minority groups where the support system is not very strong. One example hate speech being persecuted is in an article from the website Grapevine titled Ten Charged with Hate Speech Towards LGBT Community. While some individuals may argue that the freedom of speech is the right of all Americans, there are definitely limits when it comes to the hatred and harassment of a particular group. The law enacted which included sexual orientation in the group where hate speech is not allowed stemmed from the fact that the suicide rate for LGBT teens is much higher than it is for other teens. The Trevor project found LGBT teens are 4 times more likely to attempt …show more content…
One example of semantic drift is the word nostalgia; its original meaning literally translated to “homecoming pain” and the word was originally used to refer to an ailment or sickness. The word had a much more negative connotation. Now the word has a more positive connotation to it and gives the meaning of good memories. The terms used during World War 2 are going through the same shift. Goodman describes in her article, “Every domineering high school principal is accused of running a ‘concentration camp.’ Every overbearing piece of of behavior becomes a ‘Gestapo’ tactic. And every political disagreement becomes a fight against evil.” The words have already begun to devalue as they are compared to everyday situations. The terms are used more as a metaphor and not for the intended purpose, which was to convey the tragedy and horror from the