Does the USA have freedom of speech?

Question

If so why was my question on the American military removed?
Is it because I don't agree with their belief of being the ultimate superpower? Or was it because it contradicted the US governments desire to furnish the US population with only their point of view? Is there freedom of information in the USA and does this interfere with the thoughts of the populous.

Answer 1

Nowhere is there "freedom of speech".You cannot criticize too closely certain people.There are laws passed in Europe and America that will crucify you if you doubt the Holocaust.The Patriot Act here in the good ole U.S.A. was made to shut people up period!

Answer 2

Telling people they will go to hell is definitely considered rude in the US, but it's not a crime, as long as there is no threat of violence. We have a legal tradition of letting people state their opinions, no matter how rude they are; the theory is that democracy can't work if people aren't allowed to say what they believe. You're right that there are awful, hateful protesters in the US sometimes, but I support their right to say hateful things, even though I don't agree with them and don't like them. I once watched a bunch of big gay guys keep an angry crowd away from Evangelical protesters who had showed up with "gays will burn in hell" signs at a gay pride parade. At least some people take free speech very seriously here.

Answer 3

Freedom of Speech applies to governments, not to private corporations. You have the right to say something, but that doesn't mean that others have to provide you with a microphone, pulpit, and audience.

The Government is not allowed, according to the Constitution, to interfere with any rights. Obviously, absolute freedom of speech which the government can't interfere with, is dangerous to the government. So the Supreme Court interprets free speech as having limits..

No matter how you interpret the Constitution though, it does not apply to private organizations. If a private organization desires to censor whatever you have to say, they have the right to do so. Yahoo has the right to decide how their property may be used. They don't have to offer Yahoo Answers if they don't want to, let alone tolerate something to be said that they disagree with.

Answer 4

The U.S. government did not remove your question, apparently it was offensive to someone. Maybe if you would ask your question in an appropriate manner, your question would not have offended anyone. You are on a public forum, which is owned by a company who sets the rules for this forum. When you signed the licensing agreement you agreed to these sets of rules, if you do not like them you can go anywhere else, or create your own page to discuss your opinions. By the way no freedom is absolute! Fighting words are not protected by the constitution, nor are words that will cause imminent damage to someone.

To answer your question, yes the U.S. has the freedom of speech. If you don't believe me just read your constitution.

Answer 5

Looking at the answers on this site, I am of the firm belief that the American public are only shown what the government/agencies want them to know.
Terry Lloyd, British new reporter, was shot dead by American forces. Mistake. Ok. But why did the American authorities deny it happened, when in Britain we watched it happend live?
The short answer to your question is. Yes, of course America has freedom of speech. As long what you say suits those in power.

Answer 6

At one time yes the only thing you couldn't do was yell FIRE in a crowded theater. Now if it is not politically correct you get a label. It could be the label of: you are not patriotic, you are unamerican, you are a liberal pinko commie, you are a fascist fundamentalist neocon, etc... Labels are bad enough but what it means is you can lose access to influence or even access to employment. So at this time its unwise to speak your thoughts and to go against the prevailing power structure unless you are willing to be targeted and suffer consequences. There is freedom of speech at a price.

Answer 7

They proclaim that it has but say anything against the present government and watch out.

Why were there not any documentaries of the Sadam of Bush 1? No documentaries on who supplied the so called WMD? Why did Rumsfeld give Sadam and medal while he was gassing the Kurds?

Maybe it would be the same reaction as Michael Moore and his documentaries - ridicule, scorn.

How about the Dixie Chicks - they had freedom of speech when the stated that they were ashamed that Bush was from Texas. Stations would not play their music.

Freedom of speech - sure as long as you can take the heat from it.

Answer 8

Don't confuse, freedom of speech, with free speech, as most people do. Speech isn't free. You have the freedom, but it isn't free speech. There are consequences for everything. Good things equal good results. Bad things equal bad results. In everything you say or do.Think before you speak or act, and you will receive better results. Sometimes it's only the way you word a question, that causes you to create your own problem. Just think first.

Answer 9

Yes, we do have freedom of speech as guaranteed in Amendment I of the US Constitution. Specifically it says that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."

Please look again. Nowhere does the freedom of speech guarantee that anyone will listen or provide a platform for you. Since Congress didn't pass a law which disallowed you from saying whatever it was you said on Yahoo, your free speech was not violated. In other words, just because you're talking, doesn't obligate anyone to care. And if you post grafitti (or anything the site host deems unacceptable) it will be whitewashed.

Answer 10

Yes. Why do people (from both sides) continue to confuse Y!A with the government? The 1st amendment applies ONLY to the government. Y!A is private & therefore allowed to make it's own rules.