[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Withano

The thought that 'I'm entitled to steal' or 'I'm entitled to be a racist' isn't criminal, correct, that was the point I was making (race-based hate crimes are on a similar level to stealing). I've never suggested we should police thoughts - I was asking at what point are they allowed to express their thoughts, and are they even entitled to their thoughts/speech/actions regarding the topic.

I don't quite understand what you mean by the last sentence? Are they even entitled to those thoughts? Of course they are entitled to them. You can't change peoples thoughts processes and by saying they are not entitled to them will only reinforce in their own minds that their thoughts are right. As I said earlier, you can't fight oppression with oppression. The only way to beat prejudices etc is by education and talking about issues. It pisses me off when people shut people down with" that's racist you cant say that" for example without having a discussion about why it is unacceptable. People who hold firm beliefs about certain groups of society are usually educated from an early age to think that people from different parts of society are wrong so just shutting them down without discussion does no good. Education, talking and discussion is the way forward, not taking people's rights to free speech and even thought as has been suggested away. We have freedom of speech for a reason, to open discussion and hopefully education