On the 22 August 2017 Rainbow Wellington held an election forum which featured representatives from a diverse range of political parties. After the forum we asked some of the speakers for their thoughts on hate speech, and in particular on the recent sermon preached at the WestCity Bible Baptist Church in Auckland.
Please note that this audio podcast contains hate speech that may disturb some listeners.
Summary
At the Rainbow Election Forum in Wellington on August 22, 2017, discussions were held regarding the pervasive issue of hate speech in a free society. The event, recorded at St Andrew's on the Terrace, featured opinions from notable figures like Damian Light, Gayaal Iddamalgoda, Jan Logie, Logan Robertson, Nicola Willis, Philip Lynch, and Stephen Berry, with interviews conducted by Gareth Watkins. The participants shared their views on the delicate balance between freedom of speech and its restrictions when it comes to expressions of hate.
Stephen Berry of the ACT party fervently defended free speech even in the context of hateful comments, indicating that living in a free country entails tolerating such speech while also having the freedom to condemn and oppose it. This perspective was rooted in the belief that freedom of speech encompasses the protection of all speech, irrespective of its popularity.
The forum was prompted by a sermon delivered by Pastor Logan Robertson, calling for violence against LGBTQ individuals. Although investigated by the police, no criminal offense was found. The incident prompted Damian Light of United Future to advocate for the importance of speaking against hate speech and proposed modifying the Human Rights Act to criminalize discrimination based on gender identity.
Nicola Willis of the National Party condemned the pastor's speech but expressed concerns about the pitfalls of legislation that could potentially impinge upon free speech. Willis emphasized that community and societal condemnation, rather than legislation, often serve as an effective response to such hateful expressions.
The conversation also delved into the complexity of defining and legislating hate speech, with participants discussing the need for protecting vulnerable groups while avoiding censorship that might lead to an authoritarian state. The speakers wrestled with the idea that while hate speech laws could shine a light on societal issues, there was also a fear of inadvertently endorsing a form of fascism through restrictive legislation.
Jan Logie of the Green Party highlighted the necessity for reviewing hate speech laws and community-building efforts that forge connections across diverse groups to counteract hate. The opinion was shared that laws should protect individuals from threats of violence and community engagement was key in addressing these challenges.
Philip Lynch of the Conservative Party adopted a view that society should inherently abhor denigration of any kind, questioning whether laws are needed to mandate decency. Gayaal Iddamalgoda, associated with the Migrant and Refugee Rights Campaign, also supported communities taking a proactive role against fascism and hate, although acknowledging the value of hate speech legislation in certain contexts.
The recording, containing varied perspectives on hate speech, provides an insightful look into the complexities of regulating such speech in a society that values free expression. It also touches on the roles of individuals, communities, and legislation in addressing these issues.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
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