Do you support the right to criticise the political and/or religious beliefs of others? If not, why would exclude another's opinion?
EVERYONE is free to answer this question.
2007-03-20 18:05:25 · 11 answers · asked by WMD 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
We learn faster through debate. Treasure is often found in wrong theories. Much of our scientific findings are found either by accident or through botched experiments revealing other side affects. Penicillen......Silly Puddy
2007-03-20 18:10:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unequivocally. But unfortunately in this country we have forgotten that with the rIght of speech comes the rules of speech.
I cannot say 'bomb' on an airplane, nor can I express my desire to rid myself of my noisy neighbors without due penalty or consequence....and this is as it should be.
There are RULES to behavior--even speech.
If the words have no potentiality of harm than that is acceptable.
Why censor a bigot? If he is not allowed to express his misguided opinions, how will we know who we're dealing with. His punishment for such ideas shouldn't be silence, but social exclusion.
These are the RULES.
If the words have possible potentiality of harm than it is unacceptable and speech should be prohibitive.
To publicly state one's hatred for officials, and encourage others to follow suit or take physical action is dangerous, and could have (and should have) grave consequences.
I support all opinions. The good, the bad, and the ugly...with one exception. I do not support the exercise of contentious speech by US citizens on FOREIGN soil (especially during times of war). Freedom of expression is one thing, an act of sedition is quite another.
Bad behavior, for whatever reason, is still bad behavior.
Hiding behind a RIGHT to be bad is no excuse.
2007-03-20 19:00:50 · answer #2 · answered by firehorsegirl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I support freedom of speech, which is painful at times. I know that I am entitle to my opinions, which means people I disagree can have their own as well. And when we disagree, that's okay. Freedom of speech also includes (in my opinion) freedom from censorship. That is extended both ways, to the Bible or pornography. I despise pornography and think it destroys families, but if I make a big push to censor it, someone else could just as well push to censor the Bible, which I love. Kind of a catch-22, that freedom of speech.
2007-03-20 18:18:35 · answer #3 · answered by startthisover 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think we have sooo stretched what freedom of speech means. When one is protected and can stand on the street corner and preach 'death to Americans, death to America' something is wrong.
Then, going the other way, we cannot speak of God in certain places, but in that same place, we can say anything negative about God that we wish.
I can't say the 'n' word, but he can say honky and no one reacts. (I really don't care if I am called honky or whitie or whatever) the point is, freedom of speech is not equal.
2007-03-20 18:25:15 · answer #4 · answered by howdigethere 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I believe in free speech as long as it doesn't interfere with someone else's free speech.
We each have a right to talk about religion (politics and other topics) but not to criticize another person's religion or a person's beliefs. You can say "I don't like it" but you can't say "you're dumb because you believe it"....encroaching on another person is illegal and mean and causes fights, bullying, abuse and hatred (and hatred is a crime).
2007-03-20 18:20:18 · answer #5 · answered by sophieb 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I definitely support freedom of speech...even if the speech is something I find totally offensive. Just because they're saying it that doesn't mean I have to listen.
2007-03-20 18:11:03 · answer #6 · answered by tranquility_base3@yahoo.com 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. And I'll defend anyone's right to free speech, whether I agree with them or not.
We only have those rights we can defend.
Once we've lost the ability to speak out, once we can be silenced just because people don't like what we've said, then we've abandoned everything this country was founded to protect.
2007-03-20 20:24:15 · answer #7 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I support total freedom of expression! I learn much more from people I disagree with than I do from people who I totally agree with (no-brainer here, where there is no disagreement, there is no debate!)
Only in an environment of total freedom of expression can we truly know who our friends (and enemies) are!
2007-03-20 22:27:10 · answer #8 · answered by ornery and mean 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes and this freedom comes with some strings....responsibility.
2007-03-20 18:20:42 · answer #9 · answered by Pablo 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yup i use freedom of speech all the time
2007-03-20 18:08:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋