What is Hate Speech Questions

Last updated over 6 years ago
9 questions
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Part A: Select the meaning of the word “marginalization” as it is used in the following text:
“That is particularly true, they claim, because the social groups that are commonly the targets of hate speech have historically suffered from social marginalization and oppression.” (RI.2.4)

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Part B: Select two words or phrases that help the reader determine the meaning of this word. (RI.2.4)
“Critics of hate speech argue that it causes psychological harm to its victims, and physical harm when it incites violence. They also say that it makes its victims less equal in society. That is particularly true, they claim, because the social groups that are commonly the targets of hate speech have historically suffered from social marginalization and oppression. Hate speech therefore poses a challenge for modern liberal societies, which are committed to both freedom of expression and social equality. Thus, there is an ongoing debate in those societies over whether and how hate speech should be regulated or censored.”

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The phrase, “freedom of expression” is an allusion to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights-a document that protects human rights. Based on the article, what does “freedom of expression” mean in regard to hate speech? (RI.2.4)

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Based on the text, what connotation do the words “censorship” and “hate speech” have in common? (RI.2.4)

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Read the following text from the article. (RI.2.5)

“The court system of the United States has, on the basis of the First Amendment and its principle of freedom of speech, generally ruled against attempts to censor hate speech. The only exceptions are if hate speech is being used to incite immediate harm to a person or group, or if someone uses "fighting words" when standing right in front of them.”

“Other liberal democracies such as France, Germany, Canada and New Zealand have laws designed to lessen hate speech. Such laws have proliferated since World War II.”

How does this section of text best refine the concept of censorship of hate speech?

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Select a sentence from the following excerpt that supports the idea that hate speech infringes on the free speech liberties of its victims. (RI.2.5)

“Hate speech, they argue, is not just the "free expression of ideas;" it effectively diminishes its victims' standing in society. When aimed at historically oppressed minorities, hate speech is not just insulting — it also continues the oppression of these minorities. It causes the victims, the perpetrators and society at large to internalize the hateful messages and act on that hate. Victims of hate speech cannot enter the “open marketplace of ideas” as equal participants to defend themselves. For them, hate speech, in addition to a broader system of inequality and unjust discrimination that burdens the victims, effectively silences them.”

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How does the structure of the first 4 paragraphs impact the text? (RI.2.5)

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In the section “Censorship is Worse Than Hate Speech,” how does the author respond to conflicting viewpoints on the topics of hate speech and censorship? (RI.2.6)

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What is the author’s purpose in the text, “What is Hate Speech?” (RI.2.6)