Us Northern Neighbors are at least freer than the states... for now, our love for oligopolies and eventually copying our Southern Neighbor is slowly eroding that
We never did. We have freedom of expression, but dont believe people should be free to spout hate, which, looking at the States, definitely has its positives, even if it has its worrying sides
I don't believe in the concept of hate speech. one person's hate speech is another person's politics or religion, or art. the concept of protected classes simply comes with hegemonic political power. That's tyranny of the minority and I don't buy it into it. I don't see why emotion matters for language. Language is just ideas. Ideas shouldn't have human rights.
That's what a country is, a selection of regulations so that a bunch of homosapiens can live and survive together.
It Should override any personal/religious/politicals agendas if they're conflicting with the rules that (hopefully so, but not always the case), most people voted on.
Of course time moves on, and the people and culture change, that asks for changes in the rules as well (which sadly doesn't happen that often).
To be absolutely free you are expected to not live in a society.