quote:

ORIGINAL: Crush

Freedom of speech has been curtailed ever since "Political Correctness" came on the scene.  

Frankly, I'd much rather be offended by someone's speech than for them to not be able to say something openly.  Certainly, with consequences for what someone says, but in terms of "counter speech" more than anything.

Open discussion changes minds.   Censorship hardens minds.

quote:

ORIGINAL: joanus

Well Orion once someone takes those words and begeins to force them upon others as truth or fact is crossing the line. That is no longer Free Speach it becomes what we call terrorism. Let us use for example the above mentioned March on Home Depot.

Example: A Group of Militant People swarm into a HD and badger the Owner/Manager because there are a bunch of Mexicans standing out front. (all of which it turns out where Legal) In a store where people are shopping and business is being conducted they protest Illegal aliens and blame the Manager, who asks them to leave. They Protest saying it is the First Ammendment Right to say what ever they want. What they where doing was Disturbing the Peace which is a mistomener, hence they where breaking the law and useing the First Ammendment to do it. What they should have done was write their congressman to bring the problem to the governments attention instead of disrupting other peoples day for their opinions. In the middle of a crowded store is not the place to do it.

This sort of thing happens sereral times a day every freaking day. People use Free Speech to beat others over the head with mostly meaningless garbage. The real Point is that "Free Speech" (orignally Freedom of the Press) has gotten out of control. Look at the English Language since the founding of America; it has gotten ruder,  (how many parents teach their kids manners any more) and Cruder.( we actually have words like Ain't in the Dictionary! Ain't is a contraction of the word isn't. A contraction of a contraction? WTF?)

We need to trim the preverbial hedge that our Constatusion has become.
A bonsai tree only becomes Beautiful after many trimmings and prunings.

quote:

ORIGINAL: OrionTheWolf

Well joanus, Free Speech is a founding principle of the United States

The US was founded on the uncounts dead bodies of the Natives.

You call it beating them over the head, and I call it slave morality, to just give in to someone's powers of speech and persuasion. You want others restricted, because someone is weaker? Fuck them, let them be removed from the gene pool. If they do not want to hear the speech, then leave. If it is occurring on private property, then have them removed from the property, if it is on public property, then a permit may likely be needed.

Your missing the point totally. I agree that one should be able to express their Opinion. But if someone continues to throw there mindless crap in my face  after I tell them to leave, and they use FREEDOM OF SPEECH to try to over ride my request Im afraid Im gonna have to exorsize my Thrid Ammendment Right.

No one is being held captive to the words of free speech. You talk about trimming, but in fact what you propose is hacking at the roots.

If we must rip up and replace the old bush (hehe Bush joke there) and plan a new one them so be it. The whole country is held captive by the Freedom of Speech, just take a look at Tabilods  and such mediums that print slanderous and untrue things about people. Even in small town people are subjgated to similar atrosities. They Protect their self advacting ways with the Freedom of Speech.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Crush

Freedom of speech has been curtailed ever since "Political Correctness" came on the scene.