Reply #57: I believe in the freedom not to be imposed upon. [View All]

[IntravenousDemilo]

That covers both freedom to have your beliefs and freedom from the beliefs of others. It also means freedom not to be spied upon or have my privacy invaded by the government or anyone else.

As far as guns are concerned, I'd much rather have the freedom to walk in safety, not surrounded by gunslingers. "Security of the person" is in the Charter of Rights.

To me, freedom of expression is absolute, but it doesn't presuppose the right to an audience for your expression. You can say or think whatever the hell you want in the privacy of your own home.

But along with these rights, which are reactive, I think, should come responsibilities, which are proactive. And these should go hand in hand. One has the right not to be fucked over by one's neighbour, sure, but there should also be a legal responsibility not to fuck your neighbour over, and if you abandon your responsibility by fucking someone over, you should expect to be taken to court and dealt with. A corollary of this would be, yes, you have the right to say what you want, but you also have the responsibility not to say something that imposes on someone else's freedom, or creates an atmosphere of hostility detrimental to another person or a protected group in society. That's what hate-crime laws are about.

In other words, you can't go to jail for what you're thinking or what you say, but if you think or say something that will adversely affect another, that's another thing, so keep it to yourself and I'll do the same.

Clear as mud?