Kent State: Saying “You Need Jesus” May Qualify as Hate Speech

Most everyone agrees that freedom of speech must be preserved. However, people on the left want to make an exception for hate speech. This consists of any speech that they don’t want to hear — possibly including the phrase, “You need Jesus,” according to a poster distributed by Kent State University:

The public university’s Center for Student Involvement created and circulated the poster on Twitter last week. It was designed to promote an event on free speech issues as part of Kent State’s KENTTalks, which are intended to “provide a safe place for discussions and transformational experiences for our student body” and promote “civil discourse.”

By “safe,” they presumably mean, safe from dissenting views.

Silhouetted activists on the posters hold a range of placards with messages, overlaid with the rhetorical question “free speech or hate speech?” Alongside provocative expressions including “No More Gays,” “Women Need To Serve Their Man” and “Build a Wall,” the fourth placard bears a nonviolent, basic expression of the Christian faith: “You need Jesus.”

To avoid committing hate speech, think before you say anything. Would Rachel Maddow say it? Then you had better not say it either. But feel free to recite liberal talking points to your heart’s content.

On tips from Steve A and J.