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The British probably thought those behind the movement that ultimately resulted in the United States were engaging in hate speech. Be careful not to use a tint

The British probably thought those behind the movement that ultimately resulted in the United States were engaging in hate speech. Be careful not to use a tinted lens to evaluate the world. We all do it. I am not critical of your statement. I am merely pointing out that dissenting points of view throughout history have often met with push-back. Very often, years later, those responsible for the "hate speech" were recognized as being at the root of positive world-changing developments. Imagine the people who dared to engage in "hate speech" against the flat earth and geocentric dogma, voting rights, slavery, etc. I am disagreeing with you on one point. Being Jewish is a choice, just like being Christian is a choice. I was born into a family, like most, with generations of religious belief. I, however, am an atheist. You don't have to be a Jew. You can have jewish culture in your life, respect it and enjoy it. That does not mean you have no choice but to also be religious. That part is a choice. Just as it is for anyone from any other religion.

pyre 13y ago
> Being Jewish is a choice Do you think that proponents of Neo-Nazism (etc) really care about the distinction between "born into a Jewish family" and "is a member of the Jewish religion?" I'm not saying that there isn't a distinction, but people engaged in hate usually aren't too interested in nuance.
- robomartin 13y ago
  Probably not. But that's not what I was arguing. Right? For every example we care to provide there's probably a deviant group more than willing to discriminate against that population and even want to kill them. I think the history of genocides more than proves that point. Please don't be offended. Jews don't really have a monopoly on being hated or being murdered en-masse. Many argue --quite convincingly-- that the Jewish genocide was modeled after the Armenian genocide of 1914/15 (the Nazi's copied some of the methods the Turks used on their Armenian population). In the US, at least, in non-deviant circles, I believe you can be a person and not someone "born into an <X> family". In that context whatever you push in front of people as what defines you is up to you. Believe it or not, as an atheist I have a number of good friends who are Born Again Christians. Every single one of them is a great person. Each one of them chooses to define themselves by their religion differently. One in particular will smash you in the face with it every chance he gets. Not surprisingly he has suffered greatly with employment because, well, this isn't something you wear on your forehead and pester people with at work. The other guys are just guys who happen to privately be BAC's. He is a militant BAC. Choice.

pyre 13y ago

> Being Jewish is a choice Do you think that proponents of Neo-Nazism (etc) really care about the distinction between "born into a Jewish family" and "is a member of the Jewish religion?" I'm not saying that there isn't a distinction, but people engaged in hate usually aren't too interested in nuance.

robomartin 13y ago
Probably not. But that's not what I was arguing. Right? For every example we care to provide there's probably a deviant group more than willing to discriminate against that population and even want to kill them. I think the history of genocides more than proves that point. Please don't be offended. Jews don't really have a monopoly on being hated or being murdered en-masse. Many argue --quite convincingly-- that the Jewish genocide was modeled after the Armenian genocide of 1914/15 (the Nazi's copied some of the methods the Turks used on their Armenian population). In the US, at least, in non-deviant circles, I believe you can be a person and not someone "born into an <X> family". In that context whatever you push in front of people as what defines you is up to you. Believe it or not, as an atheist I have a number of good friends who are Born Again Christians. Every single one of them is a great person. Each one of them chooses to define themselves by their religion differently. One in particular will smash you in the face with it every chance he gets. Not surprisingly he has suffered greatly with employment because, well, this isn't something you wear on your forehead and pester people with at work. The other guys are just guys who happen to privately be BAC's. He is a militant BAC. Choice.