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On the one hand you have a point about China's actions, on the other hand, you are comparing Germany to mainland China as equivalent threats. As an American I w

On the one hand you have a point about China's actions, on the other hand, you are comparing Germany to mainland China as equivalent threats. As an American I would trust most countries in the EU with stuff like this over even my own country given the direction of the USA. This is all opinion and I'm not criticizing your view, just disagreeing, but I would hazard a guess from the wording of the last sentence the worry is about Orwell's 1984 dystopian future coming true when the bigger problem is that the problems in Huxley Brave New World is much closer to reality (even given the current autocratic/far right's non ironic use of doublespeak across all countries and forms of government). Germany already bans Nazi imagery and wording in many forms except for history purposes and they seem to be fine. We already have problems in the USA where now nonviolent political protestors are being prosecuted by the federal government and officials are encouraging people to commit violence against the protestors in spite of the protestors having the First Amendment to back them up - statutory limits or freedoms are not magic that make things right.

deleted 9y ago
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jimmywanger 9y ago
I appreciate your response. Just one thought: > statutory limits or freedoms are not magic that make things right. You're right, they're not, we have to fight for them. But if the laws are on the books, you have at least some recourse given an independent judiciary. Hate speech and marginalizing other groups is such a maddeningly vague category that either everything falls into, or nothing does. I don't know if you can tell, but I'm highly individualistic and freedom oriented. The fact that there's an ill defined law on the books that can be enforced with no recourse raises my hackles. Just like the beef I have with the TSA and the "no fly list". You can't figure out why you're on the list, and there is no real way for you to get off the list. I think due process is the most important thing. Sunshine is the best disinfectant.
eighthnate 9y ago
> As an American I would trust most countries in the EU with stuff like this over even my own country given the direction of the USA. As an american you trust europeans with free speech more than the US? Doesn't sound like an american to me considering how heavily europe censors. > Germany already bans Nazi imagery and wording in many forms except for history purposes and they seem to be fine. Fine by what standard? > We already have problems in the USA where now nonviolent political protestors are being prosecuted by the federal government and officials are encouraging people to commit violence against the protestors in spite of the protestors having the First Amendment to back them up - statutory limits or freedoms are not magic that make things right. Can you cite an example?
sheepmullet 9y ago
> As an American I would trust most countries in the EU with stuff like this over even my own country given the direction of the USA Why? Europe has had a lot of really serious internal problems over the last 150 years. > nonviolent political protestors are being prosecuted by the federal government > and officials are encouraging people to commit violence against the protestors Have they? I think you have been listening to a bit too much fake news. There has been a concentrated media effort to make the US look ignorant and backwards and to make the EU look enlightened.

deleted 9y ago

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jimmywanger 9y ago

I appreciate your response. Just one thought: > statutory limits or freedoms are not magic that make things right. You're right, they're not, we have to fight for them. But if the laws are on the books, you have at least some recourse given an independent judiciary. Hate speech and marginalizing other groups is such a maddeningly vague category that either everything falls into, or nothing does. I don't know if you can tell, but I'm highly individualistic and freedom oriented. The fact that there's an ill defined law on the books that can be enforced with no recourse raises my hackles. Just like the beef I have with the TSA and the "no fly list". You can't figure out why you're on the list, and there is no real way for you to get off the list. I think due process is the most important thing. Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

eighthnate 9y ago

> As an American I would trust most countries in the EU with stuff like this over even my own country given the direction of the USA. As an american you trust europeans with free speech more than the US? Doesn't sound like an american to me considering how heavily europe censors. > Germany already bans Nazi imagery and wording in many forms except for history purposes and they seem to be fine. Fine by what standard? > We already have problems in the USA where now nonviolent political protestors are being prosecuted by the federal government and officials are encouraging people to commit violence against the protestors in spite of the protestors having the First Amendment to back them up - statutory limits or freedoms are not magic that make things right. Can you cite an example?

sheepmullet 9y ago

> As an American I would trust most countries in the EU with stuff like this over even my own country given the direction of the USA Why? Europe has had a lot of really serious internal problems over the last 150 years. > nonviolent political protestors are being prosecuted by the federal government > and officials are encouraging people to commit violence against the protestors Have they? I think you have been listening to a bit too much fake news. There has been a concentrated media effort to make the US look ignorant and backwards and to make the EU look enlightened.