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For Your Information Asks the Candidates
Debate 5: War Against Nazis

An interesting topic to arise in the past year has been the "War on Nazis", or the idea that Nazi regions such as NAZI EUROPE and the Greater German Reich should be invaded and seized if possible in order to prevent the spread of hate and extremism within NationStates. This idea has been advanced by a number of independent regions and GCRs, although some defenders, particularly the FRA, has pledged to defend these regions out of the principle that all regions should be defended. Noting that Article I Section 12 of the Fundamental Laws gives the Storting the authority to declare war, would you as a candidate support such a declaration against Nazi regions? Would you support military action against Nazi regions and their interests even if such action could be taken as raiding or invading? Why or why not?

I would support military actions against any region that spreads or promotes hate or slander or racism to any group, ethnicity or country in the real world. Creating regions that do support a cause of hate are just a cesspit where such disgusting ideas are bred and reinforced.

Searching through the NAZI EUROPE forums, and their RMB, I see no overtly active spread of anti-semitism, hate against blacks, gypsies or any other ideas originally spread by National Socialism in the 30s and 40s. This is however a brief skim-through. On the other hand, I do see quite a bit of implications that these ideas are fundamental to be a participant in the region, and that worries me.

I think some regions use the word Nazi, or Communist, or other 'trigger' words, as a sort of joke, but some are clearly the cesspools I have mentioned before. These breeding grounds for hate should be attacked and eradicated with total prejudice. Freedom of speech is one thing, hate speech is quite another, and no people should live in fear of becoming targets for extremists.

Would you as a candidate support such a declaration against Nazi regions?

Yes, if the region was for hate speech and spread hate.

Would you support military action against Nazi regions and their interests even if such action could be taken as raiding or invading? Why or why not?

Not unless they were for hate speech due to that slander and free speech are two different things. However I would otherwise not support it as it would go against our region's alignment, which is Defender, and the WHR is not to be used for raiding purposes(excluding Warzones) in my mind.

This is a slippery slope my friends. First, let me say that freedom of speech is just that. The freedom to speak your mind freely on any issue. You cannot divide some speech and set it apart from this. Actions, however, are another matter entirely.

We, as defenders, can seek to limit the voices of these people by supporting operations against their raids. By confining their voices to their own region, we punish their action and still support their right of expression. If we stoop to the level of silencing these people for their political views then we are no better than they are in some respect.

I am reminded of a quote that I think is by Voltaire. "I do not agree with what you say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."

This is a slippery slope my friends. First, let me say that freedom of speech is just that. The freedom to speak your mind freely on any issue. You cannot divide some speech and set it apart from this. Actions, however, are another matter entirely.

We, as defenders, can seek to limit the voices of these people by supporting operations against their raids. By confining their voices to their own region, we punish their action and still support their right of expression. If we stoop to the level of silencing these people for their political views then we are no better than they are in some respect.

I am reminded of a quote that I think is by Voltaire. "I do not agree with what you say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."

I agree to a point. If they breed hatred, just for hating then I think we should consider taking action and going after them.

In law, hate speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it may incite violence or prejudicial action against or by a protected individual or group, or because it disparages or intimidates a protected individual or group.

Hate speech and freedom of speech are a fine line, but it is marked clearly. If they are attacking another group then it is definitely hate speech, as it is a "prejudiced action". I have seen traces of implied hate speech in their forums, but nothing too outright. You might have to join to make the darker threads available to you.

It entirely depends. Naming oneself is entirely different to believing in that principle. You'll often find that people who've joined the so called Nazi regions are not actually Nazis themselves, nor do they believe in any particular way its teachings. I myself am a fine example - translate my name and you may well assume I'm an Aryan supremacist myself.

However, if these regions provide clear indications of actually enacting policies of Nazi ideology or start hate-speeches, then yes, I shall support a move to declare war. Freedom of Speech is a tenet of society that has been twisted out of proportion by American constitutional obsession - it's important to remember that there are ALWAYS some things best left unsaid and kept to yourself.

The FRA is a non-ideological defender alliance; they have always been apolitical in nature since their beginning thus principally defending Nazi regions from invading. Wintreath doesn't even have to follow this policy if she doesn't want to. Wintreath personally doesn't have to invade Nazis in order to pursue a war against Nazis. It can simply defend and liberate any Nazi occupation. This is the same policy for the Lazarene Liberation Army, a fellow allied defender army.

Ahem. Sorry, the debates are only for the candidates. It's one of the joys of running, in fact!

Whoops got excited in debates. Pardon my opinion