Disagreeing with a person may not be ‘hate speech’

Keith Price
Published: February 29, 2008

   Permit me to point out to John L. Kyff Jr. that charges of "hate speak," as he puts it, can go both ways ("Talk from Mucci at meeting is 'hate speak,' Feb. 29).

In his letter, he barely conceals his disdain for those whose views on illegal immigration are different from his own, and he writes that the discussion during the most recent Help Protect Culpeper meeting was typical of "hate groups."

I attended the Help Pro-tect Culpeper meeting at which Joyce Mucci spoke.

I consider myself a perceptive and fair-minded man, and I certainly did not sense any hate in the room.

What I saw instead was a group of motivated and patriotic citizens concerned about an important issue that government is reluctant to tackle despite its significant impacts on our community and society.

Hate had nothing to do with it - the topic was whether or not those who come from abroad to work, as well as their American employers, will be made to follow the rule of law.

Mr Kyff's obvious strong dislike for the other side does not help the debate.

I suggest that he stick to using facts and figures to make his case and not refer to those who disagree with him as "haters."
To do otherwise, as he did in his recent letter, only shows us who the real hater is.