It’s time for a Human Rights Act
I wrote the following letter today to the Mayor and City Council in Portland, Oregon where I live at this time.
To the Mayor of Portland and the City Council,
The actions of one person this weekend who killed two men who were protecting two young women from the angry and racist remarks and actions of that individual made me begin to think seriously about what is free speech and what is termed “hate speech”.
I consider “hate speech” words that suggest or incite harmful actions against others whether the suggestion is covert or overt. I do not consider that kind of speech “free speech”.
Everyone who lives in our city, state and country has the right to feel safe. Would you feel safe if someone called out you or someone in your family as different and therefore a person who should be eradicated or removed from this country?
If someone who is mentally unstable yells out bigoted and negative comments in public about someone based on how they look, their skin color, apparent religion or sexual orientation, with an overt or covert implication of violence, is that freedom of speech?
Our regulations and laws, are created to provide guidelines in how we are to interact with each other so that all in our society can have a relatively peaceful and productive existence. Therefore, actions such as murder, theft, bodily harm to others and rape have been out-lawed.
It appears that we need another guideline now in how to treat all with dignity and respect and provide a safe environment for everyone to live in with a ban on words It’s time for a Human Rights Act | Seattle Education: