Re: what does freedom of speech mean?


"lanman" <xlanmanx@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:lai4u1d5mcniq2ljppqkrkv3giuptkm68c@xxxxxxxxxx
On Thu, 2 Feb 2006 21:03:50 +1300, "NZDude"
<nzdude@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

OK we all know the old chestnut about freedom of speech not meaning you
can
yell fire in a crowded theatre. Also we know that freedom like that
isn't
really free per se. However what I mean is with all this latest nonsense
over the Mohammad cartoons in Europe. It begs the question what does
freedom of speech really mean.

To me, I suppose, it means that another person has the right to express
and
hold views and opinions and values that I myself may find unpleasant or
repellent, they may endorse things that I would oppose. However, in my
view, the right of someone to express their views no matter how crackpot
or
extreme should be allowed, with the caveats that they are not inciting
people to do violence to other people or promoting the use of violent
means
to overthrow the government, i.e.. sedition. (and that's cuz we can vote
'em
out, or impeach 'em) Otherwise I reckon it all has to be fair game
otherwise it really isn't freedom, is it?

Thoughts, comments, opinions?
NZD

Historically the courts have upheld unlimited freedom of speech with
the usual caveats for libel, slander, and inciting which you mention
above. The reason for this is that it's impossible for courts to
determine where to draw a censorship line, so they don't draw one at
all letting each case be judged in a court of law on an individual
basis. This hands off approach allowed us to permit the KKK, the
Communist and the Nazi parties, among others, to exist in the US, even
with police protection, so they could demonstrate and express their
opinions. Islam is a different beast. While it is essentially a
fascist political ideology posing as a religion and thus receiving
protections it doesn't deserve, it uses violence and terror to achieve
its goals. The stated goals of Islamists, the attack of 9-11, and the
known fact that Islamists seek WMD should alert all sensible people
that we have a new enemy requiring new solutions. I hope Dems grasp
this and put the good of the country before the good of their party
before the next attack which OBL promises us is forthcoming.


I don't disagree.
In fact I figure that the USA should be looking at what is being said in
some of the mosques. Any Abu Hamza like calls for violence, inciting of
hatred ro calls to replace the American government through overthrow should
be dealt with just as if some milita nut was saying them. IOW w/ arrest and
penalty, including deportation. Just my opinion.
NZD


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Eden Natan-Zada
    ... > violence to express this disagreement so he should be shot. ... > EITHER THERE IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR THEIR ISN'T! ... > or "Sharon is a dictator" is within the realm of freedom ...
    (soc.culture.jewish.moderated)
  • Re: So why havnt the Scottish press published the cartoons?
    ... that freedom of speech does not extend to shouting "Fire!" ... speech with licence to say anything you want, ... And they didn't incite to violence so no crime has been committed. ...
    (soc.culture.scottish)
  • Re: So why havnt the Scottish press published the cartoons?
    ... that freedom of speech does not extend to shouting "Fire!" ... speech with licence to say anything you want, ... If they incite to violence then one must consider whether a crime has ... Nalliah calls Victoria's act a "foul law" ...
    (soc.culture.scottish)
  • Re: Eden Natan-Zada
    ... violence to express this disagreement so he should be shot. ... EITHER THERE IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR THEIR ISN'T! ... "Sharon is a dictator" is not calling for violence, ...
    (soc.culture.jewish.moderated)
  • Re: So why havnt the Scottish press published the cartoons?
    ... that freedom of speech does not extend to shouting "Fire!" ... speech with licence to say anything you want, ... If they incite to violence then one must consider whether a crime has ... Nalliah calls Victoria's act a "foul law" ...
    (soc.culture.scottish)
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