Freedom Of Speech Denied

alias · 06-30-2006, 01:44 PM

When Speech Becomes a Crime
Cinnamon Stillwell

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

......."The PC Left

Here in the United States, leftists often decry what they see as censorship emanating from the right, when in fact most of the true silencing of speech has come from within their own ranks. These days, liberal-dominated universities and colleges are one of the major promulgators of speech codes and draconian punishments for hate speech. Beginning in the 1980s, campus speech codes took on a life of their own, leading to countless trumped-up cases based on misunderstandings, perceived insensitivity or the ever-elusive crime of committing offense.

All too often, those on the receiving end are conservative or Christian students who are falsely accused of hate speech when they exercise their rights to free speech. It seems that putting forward a political or religious viewpoint on campus that is considered politically incorrect is now grounds for persecution and possible expulsion. Students have found themselves so beleaguered by what often appear to be politically motivated witch hunts that they have felt the need to turn to organizations such as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education for legal assistance"..........

Cinnamon Stillwell is a San Francisco writer. She can be reached at cinnamonstillwell@yahoo.com

http://tinyurl.com/p9tjv

RidinHighSpeeds · 07-01-2006, 10:32 AM

Here are some pretty cool videos from ProtestWarrior.com
http://protestwarrior.com/videos/entering_zion.php

They pretty much protest against the left's protests. It surely gets pretty ugly (as seen in the videos) Many liberals claimed they have no right to be there..they are not allowed to display their signs, etc..

There is some denied freedom of speech caught on video.

foundit66 · 07-01-2006, 10:48 AM

The right has its examples too...

http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/06-1...6e76cdc96.html
This professor was fired just because he stated a pro-gay statement.

And pro-gay protestors arrested here as well.
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/181925/4/

Allegations of where "most of the true silencing of speech has come from" is meaningless without any facts to back up the situation...

And considering "hate speech" is not a crime, the editorialist's comments need to be put in perspective.

Some of the examples utilized in the article are interesting as well, as I don't know how truly "liberal" they are...
*crime of defaming Islam*? I have never seen a liberal here support such laws.

*denying the holocaust*? Again, I don't know how many liberals here would actually classify that as a "crime".
There was also a discussion on these boards about a country (can't remember specifics) bringing charges because they stated that teaching Bible history as valid was a crime. I don't think there was any liberal on these message boards who supported that either.

With that in mind Alias, can you look at my two examples above and tell me whether or not you condemn those decisions? Or support them....
Because it's meaningless to complain about "liberal" censorship if no liberal supports it, when YOU YOURSELF might be supporting "conservative" censorship...

Or, just ignore this whole post and the points made. The choice is up to you...

Katczinsky · 07-01-2006, 10:58 AM

I was watching the video from the RNC protest. It seems as if the only thing the "Protest Warriors" can do is get into the protesters faces and yell "Bullshit" and attack them, literally. Rather than say, engaging in intelligent debate. It seems the only thing they know is violence, hate, ignorance, and to play "scarey music" when showing liberals, instead of tolerance.

alias · 07-01-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

The right has its examples too...

http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/06-1...6e76cdc96.html
This professor was fired just because he stated a pro-gay statement.

And pro-gay protestors arrested here as well.
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/181925/4/

Allegations of where "most of the true silencing of speech has come from" is meaningless without any facts to back up the situation...

And considering "hate speech" is not a crime, the editorialist's comments need to be put in perspective.

Some of the examples utilized in the article are interesting as well, as I don't know how truly "liberal" they are...
*crime of defaming Islam*? I have never seen a liberal here support such laws.

*denying the holocaust*? Again, I don't know how many liberals here would actually classify that as a "crime".
There was also a discussion on these boards about a country (can't remember specifics) bringing charges because they stated that teaching Bible history as valid was a crime. I don't think there was any liberal on these message boards who supported that either.

With that in mind Alias, can you look at my two examples above and tell me whether or not you condemn those decisions? Or support them....
Because it's meaningless to complain about "liberal" censorship if no liberal supports it, when YOU YOURSELF might be supporting "conservative" censorship...

Or, just ignore this whole post and the points made. The choice is up to you...

Too funny. Your 2 examples are about Mormons and their private Universities. BYU is funded by the Mormons. No government funding. They can make the rules just like a church can on who they hire or fire. Remember, "separation of church and state"?

foundit66 · 07-01-2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alias

Too funny. Your 2 examples are about Mormons and their private Universities. BYU is funded by the Mormons. No government funding. They can make the rules just like a church can on who they hire or fire. Remember, "separation of church and state"?

Yeah.

Isn't it convenient for you how the right can get away with censorship that you attack the left for?

And it's legally set up that way, isn't it.

I think of it as "religious privilege"...

foundit66 · 07-01-2006, 12:54 PM

Hey Alias. You want to see something funny?
An example of Republicans CENSORING THEIR OWN...

"In 2004, I won 78% of the vote in the primary and my name was on the ballot in November right next to Bush and Kerry."
.....
"Because after I won, despite the media blackout, the Republican Executive Committee threw my name off the ballot. This is America? What is the purpose of an election if they can throw your name off the ballot after you win? On March 25, 06, the 66 members of the Executive Committee of theRepublican party voted to have my name taken off the ballot despite the fact that the Division of Elections, Tenn. had already sent me a letter stating that I had fulfilled their requirements and that my name would appear on the ballot in the Aug. 3 Republican primary. Can 66 votes cancel the 60,000 votes I got in the general election and the 78% of the vote I got in the primary in 2004? In George, weapons of mass destruction, Bush's America, 66 votes are worth more than 60,000. In Soviet Russia, the politboro, (Executive Committee), would simply shoot candidates they did not like. In the polite totalitarianism of George Bush's America, they simply take the candidate's name off the ballot so voters can't vote for him. George Bush says we should fight for democracy in Iraq. How about a little democracy in this country, the United States.What is the purpose of an election if the Executive Committee of 66 people can take the name of the candidate chosen by 60,000 people off the ballot? What would prevent an Executive Committee of 66 People from throwing George Bush's name off the ballot Despite the votes of thousands of Americans? "This shall not stand" or democracy is a farce in America."
http://www.jameshartforcongress.com/

And this ties back into the "racism" thread too Alias...

The LEADERS of the Republican party are having to SILENCE THEIR OWN in order to hide the fact that a significant percentage of their MASSES ( 78% of the vote ) ARE RACIST...

Need any more Alias?

Or can I count on you to ignore this too...

alias · 07-01-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

Yeah.

Isn't it convenient for you how the right can get away with censorship that you attack the left for?

And it's legally set up that way, isn't it.

I think of it as "religious privilege"...

It's called freedom. I don't agree with the Mormon religion. In fact, I have have a lot of issues with the Mormon religion. The fact remains though that they have the right in this country to hire and fire as they please anyone who does not believe their religion because that is their right. Do you deny that?

foundit66 · 07-01-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alias

It's called freedom.

Yeah.
When a conservative censors speech, you call it freedom.
When a liberal censors speech, you whine...

Interesting, eh?

Quote:

Originally Posted by alias

I don't agree with the Mormon religion. In fact, I have have a lot of issues with the Mormon religion. The fact remains though that they have the right in this country to hire and fire as they please anyone who does not believe their religion because that is their right. Do you deny that?

I agree that freedom of religion gives them this right.

Do YOU deny that it's censorship?
Answer the question Alias...

alias · 07-01-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

Yeah.
When a conservative censors speech, you call it freedom.
When a liberal censors speech, you whine...

Interesting, eh?

I agree that freedom of religion gives them this right.

Do YOU deny that it's censorship?
Answer the question Alias...

Yep, I deny that is censorship. No one said the person could not say what they believe. They can say whatever they feel like saying. Everyone should be able to say what they believe in this country. The fact is you cannot if you are a Christian in a public school. The left has seen to that. Now that is censorship. Get up to give a speech in a public school and say something good about Jesus and see what happens. That is censorship. Try to lead a prayer at a football game and see what happens. That is censorship. It harms no one. When I take some kids into town and drive past the adult bookstores, I don't like it for the kids but they have the legal right to sell their books. What the hell is wrong with some kid saying he loves Jesus? Talk about nitpickers.