What does freedom of speech really mean to you?

Question

What I am trying to say is that if the Ten Commandments are posted and some groups don't agree with them and want them taken down. Does that violate the freedom of speech? Or is that just freedom of speech right back to the group that want the Ten Commandments kept there. Who really wins? I thought freedom of speech is meant for groups to express their beliefs and people can accept it or not. If you don't then you move on right? I don't understand cuz you can't make everyone happy ya know?

Answer 1

freedom of speech from the government point of view is that the government cannot put regulations on what you can and cannnot say publicly- you have the right to disagree with government leaders, you have the right to have and express your opinions.
From a personal level it means knowing oyu have these rights but taking responsibility for what comes out of your mouth.

For example, there is a guy in our town who likes to stand on the corner holding anti- Bush signs. In some ocuntries that would not be allowed- here it is- he has every right to disagree and every right to have and express his opinion. Now when he holds up a sign saying Bush is evil, wrong, should be impeached- fine-he can express that - he has been given the freedom to do so. When he crosses the line and puts up signs aobut Bush should be murdered or something that would be totally illegal- he is responsible for that statement - that is making a threat that infringes on someone else's rights and saftey and should not be tolerated.
I feel the same goes for people with obsenity and pornography on their bumper stickers and vehichle windows- great you have the RIGHT to say those things- it does not mean that oyu HAVE to say them- put it up on the wall of your home- have consideration for others that they may not want their children exposed to those things.
Freedom of Speech is a responsibility and it takes maturity and discernment to use it in a way that will truly help us maintain the right to that freedom

Answer 2

Freedom of speech has gotten to be a joke in America.

It used to mean I had the right to say whatever I wanted (as long as it didn't cause harm to an individual - yelling FIRE in a theater would cause harm and is illegal).

The other side of the coin is that you also had the same right (with the same limitations).

The problem is that we have become so OVERLY sensitive to others feelings that we no longer have the right to say much of anything. If you don't agree with what I say, you could claim that I am racist or otherwise discriminating against you and I have to stop talking, you, on the other hand, get to keep talking.

A prime example is the KKK and the NAACP (wait, don't shoot me for using those two in the same sentence).

If the KKK wants to rally in my town, you can sure bet that the NAACP will be there to protest their rally (and to be honest, I don't agree with the NAACP and the way they handle things, but I do agree with them on this issue).

However, the NAACP shows up for a convention and the KKK is told that they can not protest.

Now, I don't agree with the decision, at least in theory. If one has the opportunity to be heard, then both should have the same rights.

That is what Freedom of Speech is.


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Please don't get the idea that I support the KKK, nothing could be further from the truth. It was just an example - perhaps a little on the extream side, but not really. I know this scenario has happened.

Answer 3

True freedom of speech means you can say or publish anything at any time. This freedom does not exist in the United States or anywhere, neither in the political nor civil realm. As a poster above seems to believe, rights stem from court rulings and politicians. So as long as a majority thinks that way, speech will be allowed and suppressed according to who is in charge at any given time.

You mention the Ten Commandments. I wonder . . . would you support the same "freedom of speech" for someone who wanted to post passages from the Qu'ran or the Satanic Bible?

Answer 4

You do not have the right to say anything you want absolutely anywhere. For the sake of certain institutions, speech must be regulated in some places. For example, you will be arrested for an outburst in court when the judge tells you to be quiet. You can be arrested for yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater. Things of religious content can be banned from any government building as it is public property and thus should be free of propaganda and anything that would insinuate the government was endorsing an outside group.

Most people do not truly understand the limitations of the freedom of speech. These limitations are in place to protect the citizens. In a supermarket, I can choose to leave if you spout religion. In a government office, that may not be an option, so the government has to limit speech to protect me. Just like schools. Just like prison.

Answer 5

You know I have to be honest. I don't know what to say about this Ten Commandments disagreement, i.e., that certain groups are offended and want them taken out of public spaces. I can understand why they feel that way. I just don't know what to think about it.

Yes, freedom of speech means you can say what you want and not be imprisoned for it, etc., like you can in some places of the world. I do wish, however, that people would be sensible about it. I've seen too many abuses of freedom of speech, and Yahoo Answers has more than it's share of vile speaking.

Answer 6

You are free to post the 10 Commandments in your home, on your lawn, on the Internet, in a book, in a letter, in an email. You can give them as a gift. You can recite them out loud (If you know all 10) as you walk down the street. Movies can be made about them (and have! More than one, actually).

But the *government* can't, nor can people who are acting as agents of the government.

The first is freedom of speech. The second is the separation of Church and State.

Not too hard to keep straight, in my opinion.

Answer 7

Church and State should be seperate....and that is why our founding fathers made up the bill of rights. So if the 10 Commandments are post in a government offical building it's violating the seperation of chruch and state.

Other than that I could careless where the 10 commandments are posted.

Answer 8

yes. if people tear down posted info. about ones opinion that does violate freedom of speech. and it is also vandalism if they damage it.

i do agree on what u say about what freedom of speech is. yes they should not make a big deal about it. and u can't make everybody happy so don't even try just do what u think and hope for the best.

Answer 9

I agree. I am not a Christian but I don't care if you have your ten commandments up. I wish they would put up things for different religions also because the US is made up of a lot of different people and religions. Would you object to having other religions post things next to your ten commandments?

Answer 10

The problem is that the Ten Commandments are being posed in places like courthouses, suggesting that the law and the government value Christianity over other religions.