Freedom of Speech

[confedup]

So, what is Freedom of Speech today? I had always assumed that Freedom of speech is the right to speak freely, without censorship and that US Citizens are granted these freedoms via the 1st Amendment. Are things changing?

Case in point: On the 29th, the author of a book titled "The Born Gay Hoax" was invited to speak at Smith College (all-girls school) in Northampton, MA. Once the speech started, lesbians came out of the woodwork and took over the whole auditorium and security nor police (who were on hand for the event) did anything about it other than make him leave. The college President came out later and pretty much chastised him while announcing a lesbian movie being shown "in contrast" to the views the speaker was not allowed to make. Here is an overview of those events including video:

http://www.massresistance.org/....html

This is not the first time these style interruptions have occurred, tho usually they result in those disrupting the speeches being removed (you see this all the time during Republican political speeches, speeches about illegal aliens, speeches for the Military and those who do not agree with Global Warming or other environmental positions).

While everyone has some form of agenda during a speech, do people have more of a right to interrupt those speeches than the ones who are attempting to make their point and position known or should those interrupting the speeches be charged with a crime? I'm sure if the shoe was on the other foot in the case above (Gay advocates get their speech interrupted to the point that it is called off) then the ACLU would have been all over that college and the participants.

Am I confused at what Freedom of Speech really is?

[rn79870]

That is a deep question. Freedom of speech was intended as a right to speak an opinion, not the guaranty of a forum in which to do it. Some, not all speech is allowed, and that is evident by the famous "Fire" in a crowded theatre example.

In this case, it may be that the police removed the author for his protection. (I'm guessing) It appears the speaker was in some potential danger.

In fact, the subject of his book is very interesting. I've seen discussions on other forums where the "born gay" or "made gay" issue was discussed. There are two sides to the story and expressing them is guaranteed, only, the forum where you discuss it is not protected. Fair enough.

[audtatious]

I do agree, but after looking at the link and the video(s) I am a bit peeved. He was requested to talk in front of that club concerning his book, thus he was guaranteed a "forum" to discuss his views at the request of others. The 'Tards did not let him, thus I feel his rights and those who wished to hear his viewpoints were violated. The college itself seemed to back the protestors standpoint and allowed his and the others rights to be trampled on. The police did nothing but I wonder if the college itself told them not to.

Seems the college itself is all about diversity which explains why this was allowed to happen. Diversity is the means in which those with alternative lifestyles can suppress the opinions of those without.

[sensibleS13driver]

Smith College is a private institution. The ACLU could not and would not touch it regardless.

You are only free from the government restricting your speech. Smith College can tell you what you can and can't say all they want. But you can say anything you want outside of a soldier's funeral on public property. The government can restrict the time, place, and manner of your speech as long as it does so content neutrally; if MLK can march, then so can the KKK.Your speech can be restricted if there is an imminent incitement to violence (similar to the theater fire standard) or telling an angry mob to use violence.The government can (arguably) not act to deter speech. For example, FBI agents checking id at political protests.

[audtatious]

Smith College is a private institution. The ACLU could not and would not touch it regardless.

I did not notice that they were a private institution so you are correct. At this point I would say they are a good place to ship your lesbian daughter for "higher" education.....

[confedup]

Smith College is a private institution. The ACLU could not and would not touch it regardless.

You are only free from the government restricting your speech. Smith College can tell you what you can and can't say all they want. But you can say anything you want outside of a soldier's funeral on public property. The government can restrict the time, place, and manner of your speech as long as it does so content neutrally; if MLK can march, then so can the KKK.Your speech can be restricted if there is an imminent incitement to violence (similar to the theater fire standard) or telling an angry mob to use violence.The government can (arguably) not act to deter speech. For example, FBI agents checking id at political protests.

Good catch on the private college deal, altho it still stands as an example of the activities these people do...

I'm just tired of seeing those on the fringe not allowing or trying to distract the message of others, thus impacting their Freedom of Speech. They scream at the top of their lungs, make protest marches to block streets and bridges, have their little parades and everything else, yet they still feel the need to interrupt those on the opposite side by using the "he who screams loudest" theory. There is no "discussion" as the only options are you are with them or a bigot/racist/warmonger, etc. They scream it's wrong to label them BUT at the same time it's OK to label you.

Guess their interruptions are protected yet your right to speak without the intteruptions is not. Fair deal?

[audtatious]

The ones being interrupted still have their freedom of speech. Other than the link you posted above they simply have to deal with the interruptions.

I do agree it gets annoying

[sensibleS13driver]

In a lot of cases those issues can be regulated with a time, place and manner restriction.

Such as designated protest areas outside of the DNC and RNC, no loud protests at night, limitations about captive audiences like a subway or bus.

But often times, yep, suck it up
Modified by sensibleS13driver at 10:11 AM 5/2/2008

[audtatious]

The "limitations" only work for those who would follow them. For the most parts these groups don't care and feel it is an honour to be arrested.

What's interesting is that they are usually fringe lefties although the fring righty anti-abortion people have done some stupid and nasty 'ish too.

[themadscientist]

FIRE!!

Speech has been hijacked by interest groups. Luckily I am not interested in their opinions so I continue to say what I want.

[audtatious]

While true, it has been shown as fact that the more you say a lie the more people will adapt and believe it is true. If you grow up only hearing one side of a story then what you know is "true" regardless of actual facts. Simply ignoring those who constantly spew non-truths or truth with a "spin", without calling them to the table on it, can result in a non-fact biting you in the azz later on.

[themadscientist]

There are tools for that

[AZhitman]

My irritation with freedom of speech and freedom of assembly is that it does not contain a caveat that prohibits the participants from negatively impacting the lives of others.

Example: We had an immigration march here in Phoenix. I work right next door to the Capitol building. We could not get around downtown (traffic was snarled due to marchers in crosswalks). Took me an hour to get from the parking garage to the main road that leads to the freeway (about 2 blocks). The marchers took their sweet time in the crosswalks... The noise penetrating my office from these morons chanting prohibited any useful work, and all day we had people (who didn't speak English) in our building hogging up the restrooms (they had no problem with telling Security "it's a public building".)

Yeah, I'm bitter.

I hate protesters (regardless of the issue) because it's clearly nonproductive, but my bigger issue is that there are not reasonable and logical considerations in place to protect the rest of us who can maneuver withing the framework of the system without carrying a homemade sign.