Reply #108: the law as found in what cereal box? [View All]

[iverglas]

Whether you abhor what they said or not, it is free speech.

Actually, it is SPEECH. "Free speech" is a principle, not an activity. Does that help?

What you may be confused about is there is no inherent right to say anything you want at any time when it has the potential of causing injury to others. For example, you cannot yell 'fire' in a crowded theatre, and you cannot use 'fighting words' to incite a riot.

No, I don't think she was confused about any such thing. Your confusion, however, is apparent. The post to which you are replying is a 100% accurate description of the situation. And my law and philosophy degrees didn't come from a cereal box.

You cannot force the local newspaper to print your letter. And you cannot retain your broadcasting licence if you violate the conditions attached to it.

However, the US Constitution's protection of free speech rights is not limited to protesting against your Government.

Who said it was??? What was said was:

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (you ought to actually read it sometime) guarantees ONLY against GOVERNMENT censorship of speech.

(And how often I have said the same about that: I sure wish DUers would get it right.)

Government could censor speech that had nothing whatsoever to do with protesting against it. It could outlaw the advertising of snake oil to cure cancer. Oh look, it does.

And that still has nothing to do with this situation.

Do you think the KKK parades and demonstrations are protected because they are directed against their government? I think you know the answer to that one.

Yeah. It's a straw-person argument. That's the answer to that one.

We all have the right to appeal to our fellow citizens to make good choices as to how they spend their money, this includes advertisers. Nothing wrong with that.

And the owners of broadcasting enterprises have the right to hire and fire whom they wish.

And the public, through its government, has the right to place conditions on the very limited number of licences available for the use of the public's airwaves.

You need to get a handle on your emotions regarding this issue

That's really a lovely bit of diversionary grooming, from soneone who is so obstinately refusing to acknowledge / completely unable to grasp the nature of the issues here. Mind you, I won't be blaming that obstinacy or inability on yer hormones.

And nothing I have said here defends the content of what was said, but rather the right for them to say it.

If you could only point to someone who has denied that they have a right to say it, you might have a point.