“Hate” is the ultimate negative emotion. And yet, it is totally overused. If someone takes a position you don’t like, or heaven forbid, you cannot factually refute, you call them a “hater” who is using “hate speech.”
That is the problem. When everything is hate speech, nothing is hate speech.
It just so happens that the same week The Loop published the controversial article by March Twisdale, I was confronted by a man while walking at Frog Holler. When the encounter became hostile, I turned and walked away. He called after me that I was a “hippie, faggot,” which is interesting since I am a cis man, then yelled that I was walking funny as a result of being “f***** up the a**”.
How can anyone claim what Twisdale wrote was hate speech, compared to the vitriol I encountered?
Given the Island’s demographics, it is fair to believe the dozens of people who attacked The Loop and encouraged it and its advertisers be boycotted, also support the Save Democracy movement in response to the current Administration.
But wait! Isn’t the Constitution an important part of Democracy? And yet, these “supporters” of democracy are opposing (Article 1) which protects Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press.
By an anonymous Island resident who hopes to live here for the rest of his life.
