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| Blogs > rm_pchamp012004 > The Blog-Way Boys |
Freedom of Speech
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Freedom of Speech Freedom of Speech is the most often cited and most often abused freedom in the bill of rights. Our forefathers came from a time when you could be put in jail indefinitely for bad mouthing the King and did not want that to happen in their new Nation. But let's look into how this simple concept has been corrupted. Many Nations have the right to free speech, but only in America is this right taken to the extreme. Where in some Nations certain groups are muzzled because of Hate Speech Laws, their websites are hosted in the United States because of our liberal free speech laws. So the Neo-Nazi Party, the KKK, Anti-Holocaust Groups and their ilk get to spew their racist garbage and are protected. You may notice that no mention is made of Freedom of Expression in this amendment, but somehow this has been legislated into the 1st Amendment, making it O-kay to burn our flag or paint pictures that are disgusting, or sacrilegious or morally offensive to the vast majority of Americans ... all in the name of Free Speech. Now their are certain limits to freedom of speech, the first one that comes to mind is that you can't shout "fire" in a crowded theater. Actually your freedom of speech ends when what you are saying incites others to break the law, or may cause injury to others. You cannot advocate shooting the police (like some rappers do in their songs), unless it is in the abstract and not a direct incitement to break the law. For decades the Supreme Court has been a staunch defender of the Free Speech Clause, under both liberal and conservative justices. What is it about speech that makes it so sacrosanct? Could it be that is the one thing in which all Americans can participate? We here in Blogland do it daily, and the internet is the Mecca of Free Speech. Other limits on Free Speech are found in our copyright laws ... you cannot take someone else's intellectual property and use it as your own and claim any first amendment protection ... at least they got that right. You can not disseminate any "hard-core" pornography, and you can not falsely defame any public official or public figure with information that you know is wrong (this is where the slander and libel laws come in). And freedom of expression does not allow you to expose yourself in public (decency laws prevail in this case). Other than that, Americans can say or express themselves in any way that they want ... No matter how tasteless this can be to the majority of the people. One word of warning though ... Unless you work for a Government Agency, your employer can restrict what you say on the job (Government will make no law abridging the freedom of speech). If you don't work for the Government, you better watch what you say. If you are in the Military, you are not covered under the Constitution in most cases, you are covered under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  |
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i was attending an event run by an agency that provided services to those battling with domestic violence. outside the event, a group of men had gathered...protesting a recent local court decision to limit visitaiton of offenders with their children to supervised visits. it was disruptive and to many of the women attending...physically frightening. the agency director spoke to free speech in her opening remarks. she was venomous. i left. and i doubt that i will spport this agency again. the leadership seems to want freedom only for those they choose. as i left one of the men called me a cunt. the police that were there, laughed. so, it comes at a cost. but i don't think the cost outweighs the benefits. i think we're damn lucky to live in a country where we can question those in power. (unless of course you're a muslim) You cannot conceive the many without the one.
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1/8/2007 6:25 pm |
Did these things really occur...How sad...am sorry for the families...how disrespectful for the fallen soldiers and their families... hugs, flo
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