PC Madness or Evil Hate Speech You Decide

[Chris Bell]

From "I disagree with what you say but I'll defend to the death your right to say it" to.. "I disagree with what you say therefore you need to be imprisoned."
It's a scary path we're on.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1380971/Simon-Ledger-arrested-racism-performing-Kung-Fu-Fighting.html

[Honus]

Originally Posted by Chris Bell

...It's a scary path we're on...

What do you mean "we," Kemosabe? I thought you lived in the U.S.

[davidmash]

Thats the funniest thing i have read in a while. Im guessing once the pick investigate what realay happened all charges will be dropped. Thr num nuts who called ought to be publicly ridiculed.

He should have been arrested for performing bad 70s pop.

[Jim B.]

All Englebert Humperdink "tribute" bands should be locked in jail for a year and forced to listen to a contiuous loop tape of Morris Albert singing "Feelngs",

I want to @ THIS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzBJmoVSIY


.... the staple hit in 1970's singles bars (where lonely middle aged divorcees use to hang out and nevermind how I know that).

[padrino]

Originally Posted by Chris Bell

From "I disagree with what you say but I'll defend to the death your right to say it" to.. "I disagree with what you say therefore you need to be imprisoned."
It's a scary path we're on.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1380971/Simon-Ledger-arrested-racism-performing-Kung-Fu-Fighting.html

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by padrino

That looks to me like a bunch of horses laughing.

[Chris Bell]

Comedian Guy Earle and club owner fined 22,500 because Mr. Earle had the misfortune of insulting one of the protected class.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1379653/Comedian-Guy-Earle-Zestys-restaurant-owner-22-500-Lorna-Pardy-lesbian-jokes-Vancouver-Canada.html


Laying the ground work for similar laws in the US...
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/03/134239713/France-Isnt-The-Only-Country-To-Prohibit-Hate-Speech

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by davidmash

Thats the funniest thing i have read in a while. Im guessing once the pick investigate what realay happened all charges will be dropped. Thr num nuts who called ought to be publicly ridiculed.

My thought exactly. Cooler heads will prevail.

But thanks Bellicose, for alerting us to this important story!!

[Honus]

Originally Posted by Chris Bell

...Laying the ground work for similar laws in the US...
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/03/134239713/France-Isnt-The-Only-Country-To-Prohibit-Hate-Speech

I suppose anything could happen, but I am not losing sleep worrying about whether we are going to abolish the First Amendment. IMHO, we are in pretty good shape on that one. I'm sure the gentleman in that interview is not the first to suggest that we need to ban hate speech and he won't be the last. I don't see much of threat to our liberties.

[Hatterasguy]

We have the first amendment, thankfully.

[Chris Bell]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

We have the first amendment, thankfully.

Do we?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APUhVXImUhc

[MS Fowler]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

We have the first amendment, thankfully.

I see the McCain/ Feingold campaign reform as a direct attack on the First Amendment. It proscribes certain types of speech at certain points in a political campaign. IMO, it crosses the line, and opens a crack in the freedom of speech.

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

I see the McCain/ Feingold campaign reform as a direct attack on the First Amendment. It proscribes certain types of speech at certain points in a political campaign. IMO, it crosses the line, and opens a crack in the freedom of speech.

I don't blame them for proposing campaign finance reform, it was up to the courts to decide if this limitation was a violation of the 1st amendment. The court has made a decision to protect this form of speech; in this case, the system worked.

[Honus]

Originally Posted by Chris Bell

Do we?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APUhVXImUhc

The headline on that video is, "Pelosi Scoffs When Asked Where Constitution Authorizes Ordering Americans To Buy Health Insurance." Well, a lot of knowledgeable, patriotic Americans scoff at that question. What does it have to do with the First Amendment? Wouldn't it make more sense to look at what the Supreme Court is doing in cases that actually involve free speech? This one, for example: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/SnydervPhelps.html

I am not saying that we shouldn't be vigilant against attempts to limit speech, but at the moment, the First Amendment does not appear to be at risk, IMHO.