Should a Hated Word be Banned?? by Isabel Learis

In the article "Should A Hated Word be Banned," it talks about how Israel is trying to ban the word "Nazi." Rabbi Dov Lipman says in the article that, "every country has to establish certain value based limits," but I think that Israel is going to far by banning "Nazi," therefore I disagree with Rabbi Lipman.

One reason I think that Israel banning the word "Nazi" is going too far is because the holocaust is a big part of Jewish History, and by banning "Nazi", how will people in Israel be able to fully discuss an important event in history. The Holocaust had a huge effect on Jewish society, and is the most major events that has happened in their history, and many people were killed, starved, and beaten to death just because of their religion. In the article it says, "Even more countries consider it a crime (as Israel has since 1986) to deny the Holocaust took place." This I believe makes perfect sense, but by banning the word "Nazi", it is as if they are banning a big part of that history, which is somewhat like denying it took place.

Another reason I dont think Israel should be banning the word "Nazi" is because it is against freedom of speech. The article states, "The bill is the latest clash involving Israel's insistance on being both a Jewish state and a democratic state." Being a democratic state involves having a freedom of speech, which by banning the word "Nazi" is not doing. The article also says, "The penalty [for saying Nazi] would be a fine up to $29,000 and up to six months in jails." This is unfair because on one side, Israel is a democratic state, yet they still cannot say words that have a strong signifigance to their history?

In conclusion, I think banning the word "Nazi" from Israel is unfair, and shouldn't be a bill. Even banning things like Mel Brooks "The Producers," because it "poked fun" at Nazi. I agree with Fuchs when he says, "You measure freedom of speech in a democratic country in the freedom to say disturbing and and annoying things, not in what is nice and pleasent to hear."