Originally Posted by
buck008
I caught the jist of that. I was actually still defending the ability of people to be racist if that's how they choose to conduct their lives. I will vehemently fight against discrimination or any infringement of civil rights. Again, you don't have to respect their opinion. You don't have to give it equal time. If people bring that to their job, they should be fired. But if they want to hold a civil rally and be racist? Be my guest. If sane people want to stand directly across the street from the Nazis and protest that Nazis are there, do that too. Trying to silence that opinion actually lends it more legitimacy than just letting them speak and demonstrating how fucking stupid it is. Silencing it suggests a fear of it. Allows the proponents to claim some grand conspiracy. But if they talk and no one listens anyway? They have no power.
That being said, this doesn't deserve a podium at a political debate. It's not a position the government can ever take. People can and should be fired if their attitude impacts their ability to do their job. They should be fired if they attempt to speak for their company, at a company function, or wearing company attire.
But an opinion doesn't have to be valid. I totally agree that all opinions are not created equal and some of them are bullshit. But you can't tell someone that they can't say something or think something in their private lives.