Does this country still maintain freedom of speech?

Question

we seem to be more and more of a big brother state...we have to be politically correct...can we now not say exactly what we think for fear of reprisal

Answer 1

You can only say what you think and get away with it if you are not white. I know I'll catch backlash for this but it is true. If you are colored and want to call everyone else racial slurs then it is accepted , don't do this if you are white. Politicians even reinforce this by meeting with leaders of racially biased groups of color. However they would never meet with the Klan .

Answer 2

Freedom of speech is not what most people think it is. For example, and I know I digress slightly, in America the right to bear arms has been taken 'too seriously' by some nutters, who seem to think it means you can run amook shooting anyone they like, or not as the case is.

Returning to the subject of free speech, and remembering the above example, it does not mean that you can be nasty, a racist or generally run down people, with Sun/Daily Mail/Express lies, just because you don't like them.

Freedom of speech means that you have the right to voice opinions in a reasonable and considerate way, in the same way you might have friendly arguement with a friend or colleague, with the express understanding that losing the, verbal, arguement does not mean you can punch someone in the mouth.

There is being a lout, a loud mouth, a racist, a bigot, just a loud bastard, and then there is free speech. Juding by many of the comments here, and yes, you are racists, few of you actually understand the term at all.

Answer 3

Give me a break...

It's just awful that people are expected to show some degree of restraint and respect in how they say what they say, isn't it.

Not only is Freedom of Speech maintained, the *right* to Freedom of Speech is exploited and made cheap by the way people abuse it.

If you folks think it is so bad here in the US then perhaps you should visit a country where any Freedom of Speech is non-existent. Notice I said *visit* and not move. I don't want you to try and twist my words to suit your purpose. I guarantee you one thing, you go to a country like Cuba, North Korea and yes, Iran and China too, that you will come back to the United States a bit more humble and a bit more wise. And a heck-u-va lot more respectful of that *Right* to Freedom of Speech. And heaven forbid, you may actually take offense to how others abuse their Right to Freedom of Speech.

There isn't a one of you that has ever had to refrain from saying what you wanted to say let alone what you needed to say with fear of having your tongue cut out or your head cut off or being put behind bars never to be seen or heard from again simply for stating an opinion.

I get so tired of the poor me, I am losing my *rights* when in fact the people you accuse of taking those rights have paid more of a price and given more of themselves to protect YOUR rights then you will ever be expected to do for yourselves. Most of you will never ever know what it is like to be oppressed. You have everything, you are given everything and you return nothing. Instead of thanking your lucky stars for this country all you can do is find ways to contribute to ripping it apart. I have never seen a more undeserving generation of people of the Right to Freedom Of Speech in my life.

There, how do you like that for being politically correct?

Answer 4

Yes, it does still maintain freedom of speech officially. However, I've been noticing over the last ten or fifteen years that political correctness has spread like the plague. I don't like it.
I believe we should be polite, but all this distinguishing between white Americans and those of other nationalities really bugs me.
It's like my black friend Matt told me when I asked him how he felt about being called "African-American":
"I am NOT African-American. There's no way to prove that I'm even descended from Africans. I am an AMERICAN, that's it. If a person wants to call me black, fine. They couldn't possibly degrade me more than many of those of my skin color degrade us!"
I can agree with that. We're Americans. Not German-Americans, Irish-Americans, Mexican-Americans, or Japanese-Americans. Just Americans.

Answer 5

It was something this country could be proud of but it has been abused and I do not like any extreme racial views to be aired at all, political correct is not always racial and sometimes things have to be said without fear of a riot it just opens up subjects for debate.

Answer 6

The "touchy-feely" Democrats have taken away much of the country's freedom of speech,
by forcing Political Correctness.
Notice that Democrats care so very much about the freedom of Terrorists, but they take away Americans' freedom by demanding Political Correctness.

Answer 7

True but legally we can't get into trouble for saying something politically incorrect as long as it isn't inflammatory and likely to cause violence. So we do still have legal freedom of speech as provided in the constitution. But I know what you mean.

Answer 8

Ask the Dixie Chicks this question. You can say whatever you like and not fear prosecution (except for threatening the President's life), but if you do, be prepared to pay the consequences as many Liberals a slowly finding out.

Answer 9

Yes it does but it seems the ones who scream the loudest about the Government taking away our freedoms are the same people that want to censor what you say. Try being a conservative speaker at most colleges these days. They won't let you talk. They don't want us to say Christmas in public.

Answer 10

What the country claims and what it actually is, are two different things!!! The same way that if we said outside,what some put on here,would we get away with it? No.Freedom of speech is allowed only for the select few.................