Is there some way we can all work together to become more responsible in our use of free speech?

Question

Just as we can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater,or "I have a gun" in a bank, we should not use comments in a way that may cause harm to others.
Our founders did not consider some of the further connsequences of free speech. They could not forsee that T.V. and the internet would allow our comments to quickly reach the ears of our soldiers and our enemies and hurt the morale of our troops and provide propaganda for our enemies.

notyou---This is the kind of free speech abuse that hurts us all.
There are better venues for expressing your concerns than shoutig and throwing bombs as you run and hide from reason.

NOTYOU311---How would you feel if you were a soldier heariing the kind of comments that you are making here,on the eve of a dangerous mission?
Do you think you might lose your will to win and lose your focus long enough to get yourself killed or wounded.
I'm sure you want our troops home, but please don't shout things that might bring them home in body baggs.

You insult the intelligence of our soldiers, when you think they need you to decide what is best for them and their country.

BLUE--- I don't believe we need all agree on what is said; only on the venue in which intelligent, constructive discussions can take place.

OCATARINE---Please consider the comments I've offered above.

Tom I--No one is suggesting that we limit free speech only how it is used. We have always done that,even in our early history.
Do you believe there is no such thing as sedition, or rebellion?
You can't allow yourself to believe that merely hating Bush puts you in the glorious company of Jefferson and Franklin. Even these men believed there were lines that should not be crossed.

Eternity--- You have misunderstood. I would not have been a "good Tory", because my concerns would have been for the safety of our American soldiers.
We did not win against the British because we had bigger mouthes.

sorry should read 'mouths'

You can't condemn an action by merely puting a label on it. To say that " it's all about money " is hypocritical . IF you opened a little hot-dog stand you might even defend that w/ your own life.
I'll bet you would not give up most of the benefits of this great economy.

Also, I believe you have wandered off topic.

Answer 1

Right! We need controlled free speech.

Answer 2

The United States of America is a Democratic-Republic meaning a combination of a republic which only a few rule,while a democracy are ruled by many.

Even veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom,begun in 2003,have criticise the war and they understand this. Our country was born because we hated the way the United Kingdom or England ran the colonies.

I agree that servicemen have had their feelings and morale hurt.

Start of Harsh Comment:
You would have made a great Tory{About 15 to 20 percent supported the British Crown during the war and were known as Loyalists (known also as "King's Men" or "Tories")} and so the United States would still be a British colony.
End of Harsh Comment:

Start of one solution:
Educate so that people will know and understand what is unbiased.
End of one solution:

The founders wrote the US Constitution for rich Caucasian-Americans and not for poor white and non-white people. The US Constitution was meant to be Egalitarian for the wealthy and not Elitist.

The 1st Amendment exists for a reason and is even more important in times of disasters that include fighting.

Have you forgotten that Thomas Jefferson allowed blacks to be slaves.

Also remember that poor white people were EXPLOITED through Involuntary Servitude/Slavery. Most Americans are STILL EXPLOITED through Involuntary Servitude/Slavery since American businesses create contracts and agreements that are mainly anti-consumer and party affiliation is not important. Yes irresponsibility is also to blame. People SHOULD read.

The most affluent Americans control through laws and diversions.

Start of an irrelevant issue:
A parent would NEVER allow their children to have relationships of any kind that can or will immediately harm them or be a reason self-destructive behavior in the future.
End of an irrelevant issue:

Start of a possible tangential or Red Herring:
The US military is designed to fight and defend the US Constitution only in military battles against foreign and/or domestic enemies,however,Democrats and Republicans have weakened it. Most of the wars are for financial gains or for control. The VietNam and Iraqi conflicts are the dirty deeds of Democrats and Republicans. A declaration of war did not happen since it would had called for debates. It was about the money,but used nation building as the reason. The Boxer Rebellion was a result of the Chinese becoming fed up with 5 countries(England,France,Russia, can't remember, and passively the US) that were controlling them through economic and using the military to destroy dissenters. This is an example of Imperialism.
End of a possible tangential or Red Herring:

STUDY the US Constitution and read American history by Henry Steele Commager

Answer 3

It is perfectly posible to limit freedom of speech, even to cancel it completely. What is not posible is to do so and to go on being a democracy. Limitations of freedom of speech in a democracy can be acceptable under harsh conditions like a war, but what is the limit?. 100%of us would accept to consider a crime to publish war operational plans in a blog or a news paper. But, how many would consider the same just for stating that this war is a failure? Or that some soldiers must be prosecuted for war crimes? Or that this war should have never started?. Are you sure that you can forbid that and still consider that you live in a Democracy?

Answer 4

When our forefathers wrote that we would be given the right of freedom to say what we wanted, they were talking about Americans right to disagree and not support the King.

The assumption was that the people forming this new country were mature adults who understood what that freedom meant.

Unfortunately, those who would like to band together to censor what others say will not be able to agree amongst themselves. No one will be able to agree on what should be banned.

Isn't it a shame that more people don't stop and think before they open their mouths?

Answer 5

Support the troops. Bring them home. Our finest young people are dying in a war based on a lie.

Answer 6

quote
" Is there some way we can all work together to become more responsible in our use of free speech? "

Problem is at what point does that become a contradiction of terms. When you figure that out, you will have answered your own question.

Answer 7

that my friend has nothing to do with free speech,the free speech that reaches our troops and hurts their moral,and is propaganda for our enemy's,is coming from democrats(rats)/liberals,the Americans that actually care for our troops have nothing but respect,and praise for the duty they so unselfishly under take,we proud Americans do not side with our enemy's,as the democrats(rats)/liberals do,they prefer to call our enemy's freedom fighters,and our troops,murders,tortures!

Answer 8

I thought rights have responsibilities. The liberals take it for granted that the military has the responsibility to fight and die to ensure that they right to do anything they want without consequences??? Including lying and slandering, then hiding behind their 'right' to free speech. I'm sick of hearing about everyone's rights!

This is not your grandfather's world!

Answer 9

excellent question that I will ponder.Unfortunately individual responsibility for actions of self is deteriorating.So I dont hold out hope for collaborative responsibility

Answer 10

realize there is no free lunch..return to self reliance and tell the xxxx liberals we need less government and more freedome to produce and create without a governemnt program to legislate its form and function.