By Robert Miranda
Editor’s Commentary
When it comes to hate speech, any and all efforts to stifle hate talk is alright with me. Some will disagree. Those that do say that individuals have the right to spew speech filled with hate and destructive language under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
In fact, this was the argument used to prevent the termination of ultra-conservative radio talk show host, Mark Belling, after he slurred the Latino community several years ago. There were liberals and other politically leftist leaning leaders who supported Belling’s right to make racist comments because his words were protected under the Constitution of the United States.
This week, ultra-conservative United States Senator, Rand Paul was invited to Milwaukee’s St. Anthony’s High School to speak about numerous issues including, School Choice.
The invite did not sit well with Centro Hispano CEO, Dr. Luis “Tony” Baez who released a public statement calling for the community to either “…stop this event from happening and/or picket the activity”.
While demonstrating against Rand Paul is without question a right for citizens of America to engage in, the call to stop Rand Paul from speaking went to far.
Dr. Baez states that Rand Paul “…has been hateful and inhumane in his references to the undocumented, and has even made proposals to take citizenship away from children born in this country to undocumented parents”.
Such a stand alone by Rand Paul requires immediate opposition from the voices most affected by his actions.
But to demand that Rand Paul be prevented from speaking about these issues in the Hispanic community was wrong. Rand Paul may use unconventional language that offends people, but Senator Paul’s language is far from being as toxic as the language Mark Belling uses when Belling talks about immigration reform.
Senator Rand Paul has the Constitutional right to speak to any audience in any community that will host him and listen to him. Stopping him from speaking at St. Anthony’s would have been a mistake and a slap to free speech.
Fortunately, his speech was not stopped. If Dr. Baez got his way, this would have sent the wrong message, especially in a nation that prides itself on its willingness to engage in discussions that allow for an exchange of ideas. Freedom of speech that inspires thought and ideas, rather than destruction and hate, is speech which should be expressed, so that the public can determine for itself what best represents the community’s interest. Kudos to the organizers for hosting this talk at St. Anthony’s.
