Dr. Dan Sutter: Free speech reconsidered

The freedoms to speak and criticize public officials are crucial to ensuring that government serves the people. But must this include the freedom to propound evil, hateful beliefs?  Free speech has always faced criticism but has recently come under considerable scholarly attack. Let’s consider difficult cases for free speech absolutism, starting with the Nazis. Nazi antisemitism did not materialize out of thin air; numerous learned voices articulated antisemitism for decades. These writings shaped Hitler’s views and prepared the ground for his hate, contributing to the Holocaust. Another examp