Should one be jailed for denying an historical fact?
It can happen in Austria. Certainly, denying historical facts in a manner designed to promoted racial and ethnic hatred can be dangerous, but does the danger rise to the level that such thought or speech should be policed under the law? Is it akin to crying "Fire!" in a crowded theater and therefore should it be unprotected under the First Amendment?
posted by Pete @ 11/17/2005 11:38:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
As dispicable (sp?) as Irving's views/comments are, he's still just expressing an opinion. He's not advocating violence or trying to incite illegal activity (as near as I can tell.) I understand that Europeans, especially Germans and Austrians, are particularly sensitive to issues surrounding the Holocaust. I'd hesitate to pass judgment on their policies, but I can't see how this isn't a violation of the man's right to free speech (as it would apply in this country anyway.)
It is actually illegal in Germany to display a swastika, and this applies to newspapers, TV, and film!
I think that this is not the right way to deal with your past. You cannot just erase it and never talk about it (which is what the Germans prefer). This is a perfect example of how history will repeat itself if not learned from.
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