11 replies to this topic

[halfafinger]

freedom of speech, is there such a thing?. or is it a figment of our imagination?. personally i think there is no such thing, i can say what i like as long as it is in line with what the man(goverenment or any other person in power) thinks.

[badmanmorgan]

I will have to respectfully disagree. I believe very strongly in free speech as it is one of the
basic rights all Americans have. One of the common misconceptions is that our right to free speech
is being eroded by the government. What I have actually observed is many who exercise free
speech that is "out of the mainsream" are demonized by the media(especially if your views are
faith based or against the establishment) or by the majority. I proudly served in the US military
because I hold these beliefs sacred.(ok, I wanted the GI college grants, too!) I think that when we
as a people learn to accept each other and our views we will be a better people as a whole. We could
be living in a muslim country where being a Christian is punishable by death!(like in Afganistan right now)
Of course, this is only my opinion only.       GB

[halfafinger]

my wife told me about a case where some people are being jailed for there "freedom of speech". i think it's something to do with an animal testing, not completely sure of all the details. but i believe that the company supports the government ($) and hence the government step in. the man reason i ask the question is i thought it would an interesting topic to talk about

[THUNDER STAFF]

I think the concept of freedom of speech has been distorted from its original intent. It seems as though freedom of speech has turned into freedom of profanity and vulgarity, or just a legal way of destroying moral views.

[halfafinger]

i agree, thunderstaff. i think the concept of "freedom of speech" is very much alive, but due to the age we live in, it is either like stated "distorted" or non- exsistent, because someone fears that their way of life may be challenged, because it is counter to what they think.

[badmanmorgan]

Amen to you both! With freedom of speech comes responsibility for what you say. Too many want the freedom but not the responsibility. I must amend my original post; it seems that freedom of speech or expression is fine unless you are a Christian. Did you hear that a city in Minnesota(I think it was Minneapolis)banned the Easter Bunny? The Easter Bunny?!?! What does the easter bunny have to do with the real reason for the holiday of Easter? Nothing!

[halfafinger]

i think it's totally funny that the bulk people want these holidays (christmas, easter and any other religuos holiday) but don't want the faith behind them. i say religous holdidays for religous people only. and what about santa, i know back home(N.Z) that he was banned from saying "ho ho ho" cause it scared people.
it's santa for crying out loud, but any way i degerse.

[Christisalive!]

srv11, on Mar 26 2006, 10:59 PM, said:

my wife told me about a case where some people are being jailed for there "freedom of speech". i think it's something to do with an animal testing, not completely sure of all the details. but i believe that the company supports the government ($) and hence the government step in. the man reason i ask the question is i thought it would an interesting topic to talk about

Greetings,

There is a difference between freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.  While both are freedoms granted in the U.S. constitution they are two different freedoms.

In the U.S. people are arrested when their assembly ceases to be "peaceful".  While that is a clearly subjective term (how peaceful is a NHL game. ) it is a key part of the freedom.

However, even the freedom of speech has been trodden on from time to time by the U.S. government.  Take the Alien and Sedition Act of 1789.  There were quite a few journalists put in jail primarily for being Republican supporters, fyi Thomas Jefferson was a member of the Republican Party (not to be confused with the modern Republican party).  This was being done with the knowledge and consent of many of the U.S. "Founding Fathers".

President Lincoln imprisoned quite a few political prisoners during the U.S. civil war simply for voicing their protests against his suspension of due process.  Many of these prisoners were sent to Fort Wood in New York Harbor.  In an ironic twist of fate one of the political prisoners Lincoln sent to Fort Wood was General Charles P. Stone (a union general blamed for a failed action at Ball's Bluff) was the engineer who designed the base of the Statue of Liberty upon the very foundations of his one time prison...Fort Wood.

Then there's the current administration's suspension of due process.  Is it right?  Was Lincoln right?  Were the Founding Fathers right?

Anyway the U.S. government, like all governments, has a long history of violating the most basic tenants of it's constitution from time to time.  However, all in all I'm still happy to live in the U.S.

-matt

Edited by Christisalive!, 29 March 2006 - 12:38 AM.

[badmanmorgan]

I agree. Our government is far from perfect, but I have yet to see a better one out there. Part of the problem with our government is the apathetic people that if governs. If we, en masse, stood up against these injustices when they happen, things would be different. Too many times these things pass by because we, the voting public, sit on our hands. We can't stop corrupt people from becoming public servants, but we could sure kick them out of office if we would just get off our rear ends and vote.

[Anchored]

to me freedom of speech is frowned upon when what you say offends another person's point of view, for example if I went into any bible beleiving church that followed the Word in it's entirety then if I said that practising a homosexual lifestyle is an abomination before God then that would be fine and nothing would be said, if I were to say that on the streets of San Fransisco or any other place that embraces that lifestyle then I would be shouted down and probable charge for spewing hatred, there is no freedom of speech anymore because it is controlled by the differing societies we live in, what is ok here is not there and so on... my view is this, if Jesus said it if the Holy Spirit prompts it then speak on, if it is the truth then speak it though truth hurts it is better said than not, especially in the days we are in.
Mike

[mbooker]

I'm not so sure free speach should be in any context. Take for instance you have children, should people be allowed to say what they want under free speech?  Free speech should be allowed only if guided by pure moral and biblical principal.  

[Mr. X]

True free speech means one is able to express thoughts, ideas, beliefs and opinions freely, but does not grant freedom to spout obscenities or harmful speech (like shouting fire in a packed room).