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by adi2412 4644 days ago
A mistake in identifying her ethnicity is fine. But what they did was call her an Arab to associate her with terrorism and thus insult her.

Free speech does exist. But do remember that any free country also stipulates that the freedom comes with the responsibility that you do not use your freedom to hurt others.

2 comments

> Free speech does exist. But do remember that any free country also stipulates that the freedom comes with the responsibility that you do not use your freedom to hurt others.

There is a distinction between "hurting someone" as in "yelling fire" in a crowded theatre to "hurting someone" as in going on twitter and spouting random crap. Sure, you can sue for emotional damages or whatever if you please. However, it really is not the same thing. At least the way it works in America. I know that in some European countries, one's free speech rights are limited (e.g. when it comes to holocaust denial or whatever).

Free speech does exist. But do remember that any free country also stipulates that the freedom comes with the responsibility that you do not use your freedom to hurt others.

Joe Random twitter user can't hurt anyone by being an asshole on twitter.

The real free speech issue here is that freedom of speech runs both ways -- you are free to speak out and everyone else is free to speak out and criticize you for what you said.