Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate the great
No. "Free Speech" refers to what the government can and cannot do, not to individuals. Just because we have a right does not mean that the government has to protect us from our own stupidity in exercising that right.
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I was not referring to the first amendment of the US Constitution, Nate; I am of course well aware of the fact that this relates only to what the government is permitted to do. I was referring to the general state of free speech in society - that apparently someone in the USA can be beaten up in public for expressing an unpopular opinion, and that people would seemingly find this amusing. I find that disturbing. Surely someone is entitled to express the view that soldiers are wrong to serve in Iraq without running the risk of physical violence by doing so? It may not be a popular viewpoint, but someone is entitled to hold, and to state, that view if that is their belief, are they not?