free speech

There is a certain philosophy on the marketplace of ideas that's popular in a lot of places and in fact is part of the underlying idea behind the rules of this very forum. The main gist of it is that no idea or viewpoint is so ugly or dangerous that it ought to be prohibited, even in privately...

What about first amendment and hate speech? What of the spirit of that expression which goes something like "I may not agree with what you say but I agree you have the right to say it or will defend you right to say it." This is associated with Youtube's new program of monitoring content...

"A Republican legislator and Vietnamese refugee was dragged from the state Senate floor Thursday morning when a Democratic leader ordered her removed after she tried to criticize the late Tom Hayden, a former state senator and vocal opponent of the war in Vietnam. State Sen. Janet Nguyen...

West Ham United (English Soccer giant) supporters have been arrested, threatened with bans and targeted for expressing free speech during a recent soccer game. Worse yet, one of West Ham's best players is Israeli and profiting from the club while "objecting" to fan behavior. :rolleyes...

I noticed this article in the Washington Post's Metro section today regarding the courthouse in Loudoun County, VA and thought it might be of interest. This is how the article starts... I'm not sure if this is the most appropriate way to start the article, but it evolves into explaining that...

I think they should be allowed in and left without protection for a day. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25082251-12377,00.html

Prop. 8 campaign can't hide donors' names I think this is quite ridiculous. Concomitant with the freedom to speak is the freedom to remain anonymous when you do, for the very reasons this lawsuit was filed in the first place: the possibility (and in the case of Prop 8 the very real risk) of...

Australia's (embarassing) Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has announced that the country will no longer attempt to prosecute Iran's Ahmadinejah for incitement to genocide. I bet he must have been quaking in his boots over this prospect. Why do small, insignificant (by world standards) countries...

Winston Churchill wrote a 6 volume history of the second world war (The Gathering Storm, Their Finest Hour, The Grand Alliance, The Hinge of Fate, Closing the Ring, Triumph and Tragedy). He has everything covered except for one thing. He doesn't mention a "genocide" of Jews, "6 million victims"...

This thread is sort-of meant to be a continuation of a previous discussion, about extreme body modification such as apotemnophilia and amputation on-demand. Now the French are considering a law to ban "any means of mass communication — including magazines and Web sites — that promote eating...

Sometimes you look at a contentious situation and have to wonder about the sanity of the people on both sides of the issue. Take the furor over the Dutch film on Islam. Who is more crazy, the Muslims threatening violence over it or Dutch MP Geert Wilders? BBC article on film here.

You may remember a rare event when the Prophet Mohammed was depicted with a bomb on his bonnet. Over here in London, some Islamists got their pants in a twist, and marched upon the street in their fantastic London accents declaring Britain (As remember, these guys do not see themselves as...

Apparently saying "Good Job, Columbine shooters" is a jailable offense in the United States, now. Particularly disturbing: Speech is not disorderly unless it's encouraging a clear and immediate danger. And exactly what would be "unlawful" about using a computer communications system...

I get alerts from the American Family Association, and they told me to call my senator to support this bill. I personally see it as an offense to Free Speech/Press. S. 1780: Protecting Children from Indecent Programming Act http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1780 Isn't it...

Free People Read Freely "We witness today perhaps the most widespread suppression of views the country has known. The suppression comes not from fear of being jailed but from fear of being dismissed from employment, banned from radio work, disqualified for teaching, or unacceptable for the...

Capitol Police broke the leg of a man who was stopped for wearing a button that says "I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ." You can decide for yourself whether he really assaulted an officer or not. I think not. I think the only assault that took place was on the Constitution and your right to freedom of...

The home office is carrying out a consulation on "the possession of non-photographic visual depictions of child sexual abuse" Obviously with the intent to outlaw such images. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2007-depiction-sex-abuse So would you actively oppose such a law?

I concede that it is from Drudge but I heard him say that in the press conference. :mad: :( :mad: :( Sad day. CBS and MSNBC are private companies and they have every right to fire Imus. Also, the likes of Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson are free to speak out and try and get Imus fired...

Has this topic already been 'threaded', here? I did not know that America disallowed certain broadcasts into Amerca... Is this concerning to anyone, other than myself? http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1EBB4C7F-7F2E-4257-A04C-56678862E31A.htm

One year for a real dictator , three years for an imaginary dictator. Egypt blogger jailed for 'insult' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6385849.stm

Hello All, A friend recently sent me this link on the subject of denial, scepticism, free speech and scientific orthodoxy which seems directly relevant to the mindset of many twoofers. It provoked a wordy response from me which I have included below the link. Perhaps the JREF ninjas would like...

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/inquirer/living/education/14391801.htm?source=rss&channel=inquirer_education This is the high school in my town. My kids are too young to attend high school yet, but barring any move on my part, this is where they will attend. As a taxpayer in this town, I am...

Event reminds Americans that our freedoms are fragile and need protection Borders ban Motoons from stores Physician, heal thyself.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/photos-us-doesnt-want-seen/2006/02/15/1139890776910.html Freedom of Speech under Dubya.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4567940.stm The latest news on this debacle is that a delegation of Muslims living in Denmark has gone to spread the word of Denmark's blasphemy in the Arab countries. The leader of the biggest Danish right-wing party has called the delegation...

Isn't it great to live in such a country? :)

A couple of years back, I read a Readers' Digest article (one of those little ones tacked on the end of larger articles as space-filler) that said humour was banned under Kim Il Sung. It said that only Mr Kim was allowed to make jokes, anyone else doing so got fined. It then gave an example of...

http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0303/20/d01-113850.htm For those who missed the story or need a recap: Good for him. But: Sounds like he's being raised right to me. We need more parents like the Barbers, on every area of the political landscape.

The USSC has brought the matriarchal death-factories one step closer to eradication. I can only applaud the USSC decision. JK

Legal precedence suggests that he may land himself a jail term because of this satirical stunt - in case an official complaint is filed with the authorities: http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=490466 The Land of the Midnight Sun also contributed this anti-American...