Free speech for me, but. . .
One of the sharpest arguments in favor of immigration restriction was made, I believe, by Peter Brimelow in his book Alien Nation. My recollection is that it was more an aside in the introduction than a developed argument, (which if correct would be a shame), but the essence of it was the multiculturalism would inhibit and eventually render impossible a fully free society.
We’ve seen plenty of evidence of Europe’s myriad difficulties reconciling multiculturalism and freedom of speech– from the vociferous reaction to publication of Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses, to the Danish cartoon controversy, with many stops along along the way and more surely to come. I had assumed that America, with its vigorous First Amendment culture, would be much more resistant to the temptation to restrain speech.
I don’t pretend that the issues are simple: as I recall, both Pat Buchanan and Paul Johnson, neither knee jerk multiculturalists to say the least, wondered whether it was unduly provocative to publish Rushdie’s work.
The question raises its head again in a column in the New York Daily News by Dolores Frida. She launches into an attack on Marcus Epstein, whose paper for the immigration restriction group The American Cause had already drawn the ire of the New York Times editorial board. (TAC will have more to say about this later). But note this passage from Ms. Frida:
Immigration reform advocates, particularly Latino activists, are falsely characterized as advocating “open borders” and “blanket amnesty.”
These comments constitute “hate speech,” as defined in a preliminary report on a pilot study conducted by UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center.
Hate speech leads to hate crimes. No argument about that. Violence against Latinos has increased by 40% in the past four years — sometimes with deadly results, as evidenced by last year’s murder of Ecuadoran immigrant Marcelo Lucero on Long Island.
Based on this and other reports, the National Hispanic Media Coalition has filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission, asking it to examine the extent, nature and effects of hate speech, the role of the media and possible options to counterbalance its negative impact.
The economic hardship the country is experiencing can only lead to more instances of Latino-bashing when fewer and fewer jobs are at stake. Therefore, let’s hope the FCC takes this petition seriously and promptly.
Freedom of expression, protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution, is the main reason many immigrants come to the U.S., and we cherish it as much as anyone.
Certainly, no one wants to inhibit anyone from expressing his opinion, regardless of how vile it may be, but a fair, safe, middle ground must be found.
Now, Epstein’s argument is surely not to everyone’s taste, but you have to live an almost unimaginably sheltered life to regard it as “hate speech.” So, a question for Ms. Frida: what alterations in the US Constitution does she recommend as the “fair, safe, middle ground” to deal with such threats as Marcus Epstein?
We all knew this was coming. But Hispanic calls for the repeal of the First Amendment makes our case. Aliens bring their cultures with them, and freedom of speech plays little part in Latin Culture. It seems to me that the goal of we Remnant Conservatives (for want of a better moniker), is to define what is and is not in our cultural. Education of that sort is not enough, but it is a start.
BTW, I like the term Legacy Culture and Legacy Population. It implies worth and safety; things worth defending.
Not only isn’t it “hate speech”, the argument that “hate speech leads to hate crimes” loses whatever value it may have when the definition of “hate speech” is so ridiculously broad. Ms Frida is playing obvious, simplistic, and rather dimwitted rhetorical games, and her statement that she “value[s free speech] as much as anyone” in this context is a self-evident lie.
If Mrs. Frida were to come out here to Loudoun County Virginia she would discover that nearly all crimes of violence are committed by the small percentage of the population that is Latino, many of whom are illegal aliens. If she were to review serious traffic offenses and accidents that result in injury or death she would find the same statistical imbalance prevailing. We indigenous Americans are not exactly under siege, but there are neighborhoods in the county that are best avoided after dark and they are overwhelmingly Latino. If it is hate speech to advocate pushing back when you are being pushed then I am all for it. I wonder how much money in this hard economic climate will be wasted in the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s FCC investigation on hate speech directed against Latinos?
Where did Ms. Frida get that 40% statistic? And is it adjusted to reflect violence by Latinos against Latinos?
And Mr. Giraldi is correct, some 80% of gang violence in Northern VA is by immigrants, and overwhelmingly Latino (e.g., MS-13.)
I am an alien (no, I am not from Mars, I’m from middle east) temporarily living in the USA (I’ll leave in May, so don’t worry about bringing my culture to the USA). I think you are worrying too much about something which is of minor importance. If the economy goes the way it seems it is going (i.e., down the toilet), immigrants will stop coming on their own.
Hispanic on hispanic violence must have slipped her mind. This article says hispanic on hispanic violence is increasing. Is that because some of them are against amnesty?
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=9798086
The article said the violence is mostly related to gangs and drugs. A hispanic can commit murder and run home and avoid punishment. She isn’t going to talk about anything that is politically inconvenient to her. Why doesn’t she and her fellow “experts” social engineer this problem away.
There are many reliable reports that as the economy contracts many Hispanic illegals self-deport. But more than a few turn to crime, either to get cash for their return or as an alternative to honest work.
On the basis of casual observation I have wondered if Mexican Gangs haven’t taken advantage of the large number of Guatemalan, and perhaps other illegal groups. The local Guatemalans seem quite docile unlike the Mexicans. They’re all illegal but there are differences that most of us “Anglos” miss. VDare had a piece mentioning that many Guatemalans and Hondurans are afraid to transit Mexico on their way home. Ethnic groups preying on their own and similar groups is an old story in America.
Mort Zuckerman owns the NY DAILY NEWS. He is often on McLauglin Group. Check him out.