I hate to reanimate old political posts, but I have reconsidered a previously held opinion.
Currently in Canada, a series of "human rights commissions" is in the process of persecuting Ezra Levant, McLeans Magazine, and Mark Steyn. They have been hauled before an extrajudicial inquisition with a friendly sounding name that has thus far a 100% conviction rate since it's inception. Just under 50% of the complaints brought forward to the federal commission under Article 13 (which prohibits speech that "might cause" offence or victimization) have been brought forward by a single complainant who used to work for the commission... A commission that sends out agents provacateur on the internet, which is in effect entrappment (which in a REAL court of law is illegal). This travesty has led to a surprising number of allies, who may disagree with what the defendants are saying, but agree with their right to say it.
Here is a summary of the whole stinking affair on one page, with video of the interrogation.
Ultimately, I can see where trampling of free speech is unacceptable. During the Mohammad cartoon riots, there was a legitimate curiosity amongst the news consuming public to see "just what all the fuss is about". Ezra Levant has published these, and is now subject to a quasi-legal process where the complainant doesn't have to foot his own legal costs (unlike civil court matters) but the defendand must pay on his or her own. It is decided by appointed bureaucrats, most of whom are not lawyers, let alone judges.
Anyways, here's the rub.
I'm changing my position. I'm mature enough to admit when I'm wrong. Forbiddance of any freedom of expression is wrong, and I can see the results of it right here in Canada, right now. Ultimately, if a stupid idea ("kill all the that other tribe / ethnicity / religion") can influence a people, the problem is not freedom of speech; it's a stupid populace that believes stupid ideas.
So, rather than banning speech (which only drives it underground anyways) I say let it outside. Any society stable enough to realize that it's shit will be disinterested and will not be swayed. While this course could spell disaster in parts of the third world, I live in Canada.