On the Topic of Hate Speech Laws

[sandinista]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

[Coito ergo sum]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

Conservative, you mean. A truly liberal law would allow this speech.

[sandinista]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

Conservative, you mean. A truly liberal law would allow this speech.

liberalism as ideology, which is actually conservative. This fits right in.

[Coito ergo sum]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

Conservative, you mean. A truly liberal law would allow this speech.

liberalism as ideology, which is actually conservative. This fits right in.

Well, Leftism, certainly. But, classical liberalism presupposes respect for individual liberty, beginning with freedom of thought, freedom of belief, and freedom of speech. The sanctity of one's own mind and the right to express one's thoughts without interference from the State is at the heart of liberalism.

[sandinista]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. 6 months for a drunken rant?

typical "liberal" law making/enforcing.

Conservative, you mean. A truly liberal law would allow this speech.

liberalism as ideology, which is actually conservative. This fits right in.

Well, Leftism, certainly. But, classical liberalism presupposes respect for individual liberty, beginning with freedom of thought, freedom of belief, and freedom of speech. The sanctity of one's own mind and the right to express one's thoughts without interference from the State is at the heart of liberalism.

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

[Coito ergo sum]

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

Thankfully, our laws in the US have generally withstood the assault you speak of. There is no law anywhere in the US on which this shit-heel would be prosecuted.

[sandinista]

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

Thankfully, our laws in the US have generally withstood the assault you speak of. There is no law anywhere in the US on which this shit-heel would be prosecuted.

yet people still get locked up for growing plants and doing with their own body what they wish.

[Coito ergo sum]

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

Thankfully, our laws in the US have generally withstood the assault you speak of. There is no law anywhere in the US on which this shit-heel would be prosecuted.

yet people still get locked up for growing plants and doing with their own body what they wish.

Yes, that's true. That's not a liberal law either. A liberal law would have marijuana growing legal. Drug laws are generally things "conservatives" support, at least in the US.

I think it's important to note the difference between drug laws and speech laws, though. They aren't the same.

[Coito ergo sum]

HICAGO • An appeals court has upheld the rights of suburban Chicago students to wear T-shirts with the words "Be Happy, Not Gay."
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling Tuesday involves a dispute at Neuqua Valley High School. A teen sued in 2006 after school officials blacked out the words "Not Gay" on her T-shirt. The incident happened the day after a "Day of Silence," which was held to draw attention to the harassment of gay students.
The court says a school that "permits advocacy of the rights of homosexual students cannot be allowed to stifle criticism of homosexuality."
The decision says the school was wrong unless it could prove the shirt would cause a "substantial disruption."
The president of the district's board declined to comment on the ruling.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illi ... 2bc8b.html

[Gallstones]

Ok, to be more specific, neo liberalism, aka capitalist democracy, aka, the overwhelming ideology of the west. Hate speech laws fit right in.

Thankfully, our laws in the US have generally withstood the assault you speak of. There is no law anywhere in the US on which this shit-heel would be prosecuted.

yet people still get locked up for growing plants and doing with their own body what they wish.

Yeah, it's too bad the US isn't more libertarian.

[Ian]

This was just handed down today:

Anti-gay church's right to protest at military funerals is upheld
Washington (CNN) -- A Kansas church that attracted nationwide attention for its angry, anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. military members has won its appeal at the Supreme Court, an issue testing the competing constitutional rights of free speech and privacy.

The justices, by an 8-1 vote, said Wednesday that members of Westboro Baptist Church had a right to promote what they call a broad-based message on public matters such as wars. The father of a fallen Marine had sued the small church, saying those protests amounted to targeted harassment and an intentional infliction of emotional distress.

"Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and -- as it did here -- inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.

At issue was a delicate test between the privacy rights of grieving families and the free speech rights of demonstrators, however disturbing and provocative their message. Several states have attempted to impose specific limits on when and where the church members can protest.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/02/scotus ... ml?hpt=C1#
A good ruling.

[Coito ergo sum]

This was just handed down today:

Anti-gay church's right to protest at military funerals is upheld
Washington (CNN) -- A Kansas church that attracted nationwide attention for its angry, anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. military members has won its appeal at the Supreme Court, an issue testing the competing constitutional rights of free speech and privacy.

The justices, by an 8-1 vote, said Wednesday that members of Westboro Baptist Church had a right to promote what they call a broad-based message on public matters such as wars. The father of a fallen Marine had sued the small church, saying those protests amounted to targeted harassment and an intentional infliction of emotional distress.

"Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and -- as it did here -- inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.

At issue was a delicate test between the privacy rights of grieving families and the free speech rights of demonstrators, however disturbing and provocative their message. Several states have attempted to impose specific limits on when and where the church members can protest.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/02/scotus ... ml?hpt=C1#
A good ruling.

I'd say the Supremes reaffirmed today the extent of free speech in the United States. It's pretty fucking free.

If I were somebody burying my loved one, however, I would punch their fucking lights out and make them impanel a jury that would convict me. I am willing to bet I could beat that case....

[Ian]

I wonder if the French will notice this case. Apparently, making anti-semitic remarks is illegal in France. In Germany it's a crime to deny the Holocaust. In the US, you can pretty much make an ass out of yourself with whatever speech you want.

For the first time ever, I'm tempted to use the term "Freedom Fries" for what I eat with my cheeseburger.

[Coito ergo sum]

Warlocks pissed at Charlie Sheen's blasphemy against warlocks. http://www.tmz.com/2011/03/02/charlie-s ... aven-moon/

You see - this is what happens when you allow people's claims of being "offended" even the slightest bit of traction. Once they get their censoring toes in the door, every fucking tom, dick and harry wants to control your speech. Even the warlocks are at it!!!

[Seth]

This was just handed down today:

Anti-gay church's right to protest at military funerals is upheld
Washington (CNN) -- A Kansas church that attracted nationwide attention for its angry, anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. military members has won its appeal at the Supreme Court, an issue testing the competing constitutional rights of free speech and privacy.

The justices, by an 8-1 vote, said Wednesday that members of Westboro Baptist Church had a right to promote what they call a broad-based message on public matters such as wars. The father of a fallen Marine had sued the small church, saying those protests amounted to targeted harassment and an intentional infliction of emotional distress.

"Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and -- as it did here -- inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.

At issue was a delicate test between the privacy rights of grieving families and the free speech rights of demonstrators, however disturbing and provocative their message. Several states have attempted to impose specific limits on when and where the church members can protest.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/02/scotus ... ml?hpt=C1#
A good ruling.

I'd say the Supremes reaffirmed today the extent of free speech in the United States. It's pretty fucking free.

If I were somebody burying my loved one, however, I would punch their fucking lights out and make them impanel a jury that would convict me. I am willing to bet I could beat that case....

Yup, good for the Supremes. The proper response to the WBC loons is for the "honor guards" to surround them in ranks holding up large US flags to conceal them from sight. Not much you can do about the sound except to have your own PA playing the National Anthem over and over again.