Don't you think freedom of speech should mean 'freedom to say anything you wish'?

Question

I fear, as I have recently experienced, that making exceptions to freedom of speech only serves to erode the protections it affords citizens.

Freedom of speech should mean the freedom to say ANYTHING you damn well please to!

It should be your actions that are judged, NOT what you say!

All Americans that tell me this nonsense about how America is more free than other countries clearly have been living in a hole for a long time or ignorant of what MOST other countries allow. It's people like you that allow the freedoms in this country to be wittled away...

When you start allowing the authorities to make exceptions, then you had better realize how restricted your free speech really is.

You probably will when you make a joke and have the authorities come down, start an investigation and legal action against you...

askthepizzaguy, making a threat is VERY open to interpretation. As for the other stuff, that is outright treason if you share national secrets or reveal troop movements. Those are actions by someone...that is different.

Answer 1

I believe that most Americans are under the illusion that they truly have free speech, true democracy. etc.. Compare the actions of previous actions of dominant empires throughout history. Have we transformed or are Americans fooled by a cleaver rouse.

Answer 2

Thank you askthepizzaguy
In addition-> You say that we should be judged by our actions? Newsflash: speaking is an action (verb).
If you don't like exceptions, then why should speaking be an exception to one being responsible for one's actions? Please check out an American Government class in college- the dual guarantees of freedom and security requires a balancing act that provides no defining line between the two. Give and take are necessary.

Answer 3

Your freedom of speech stops at the end of your nose. It is illegal to shout 'Fire!' in a crowded theater, because it could harm someone. Your freedom to speech should stop when it could hurt someone (I don't mean just offend). That's a pretty good definition for Sin: A sin is an act that hurts you, someone else, or God.

Answer 4

Well you are free to cuss a cop and he's free to put you in jail for insulting an officer. I mean come on, do you really think you can say anything without repercussion? If you use abusive language at a ballgame for example without respect to others do you think you'll stay around? Have you not heard of slander?

Answer 5

slander -
libel and slander are two forms of defamation (or defamation of character), the tort or delict of publishing (to a third party) a false statement that negatively affects someone's reputation.

Slander is not protected by freedom of speach but it is protection of an IDEA
maybe new idea of a goverment is okay but telling people that Bush did something that is not true and show evidence that he did but in actually he didn't

Answer 6

What about spreading lies? What about making threats? What about showing child pornography? What about giving away national secrets to our enemies?What about giving away our troop movements in wartime? What about propaganda?

There are harmful and even deadly forms of speech. People can die unless there are limits to what we can say. No shouting fire in a crowded theater.

Answer 7

I say what I want.If that gets me in trouble so be it.If you don't wish to take responsibility for your actions and the consequences there of,then you are lost.

Answer 8

Should you be allowed to scream "FIRE" in a packed movie theater?

Besides, if living here is such a drag anymore why not pack your sh!t and move somewhere else...

Answer 9

laws are made by the wussie's you use to kick the s hit out of in school.Great payback huh?

Answer 10

I agree with you.