posted on January 21, 2002 09:34:43 AM
It's interesting that in this London newspaper, The Guardian, there is a thread that is questioning the concept of free speech in the US.
posted on January 21, 2002 12:32:38 PM
I don't think freedom of speech is slipping away, but I do think the tolerance level of people that are presented an opposing view is diminishing rapidly. "Sometimes when we touch, the honesty's too much..."
posted on January 21, 2002 02:14:59 PM
Freedom of speech is slipping away a bit. You see it eveywhere. I do believe it is because of intolerance. Sort of reverting back to the 50's McCarthy era. I think it will pass. I hope it will pass.
There was a show on last night about liberty and what it meant to various people. It was really interesting even though I believe it was filmed in the 1980's. People newly immigrated loved it here in this country because they could say what they thought and be out at night without fear and just plain have LIBERTY. We who were born here have sometimes forgotten what that means.
posted on January 21, 2002 03:29:15 PM
IT really depends on how one defines Freedom of speech..
if what you say will Only cause big trouble and insite huge riots shouldn't this type of speaking be monitored limited ????
Should we in the name of Freedom of speech allow out and out war amoung the people to break out inside the country.
Should we free gang members from prisons and jails who have killed other rival gang members with guns pipes and chains because they had a right to there freedom of speech after all they were just trying to get there point across and they were only useing there rights to free speech and the right to bare arms.
how ever they forgot the key to free speech which is peaceful assembly.
How about the people burning and bombing abortion clinics that too free speech under some peoples definition.
oppression of others words, thoughts or life style is not what freedom of speech is about.
much of the intolerance you see today that in some cases is getting to the point of extremes is because this freedom has been long streached beyond its limits and well beyond what it was ment to be in this country.
As well The balance is shifting and the majority which has had its way for so long is shrinking as well, the intolerance that was show to one group is now being seen on the other side!!!!
if this country was a school you could say the unpopular kid is starting to win more of the battles and the rule is shifting.
