Is freedom of speech alive anywhere?

[WordWhiz]

A while ago, I posted a story about a man who is serving 5 years in jail in Germany for the simple act of expressing an unpopular opinion: namely, that the Holocaust did not occur. Canada and America were complicit in this denial of basic human rights.

In the original thread, some argued that this wasn't a big deal because Holocaust-denial laws were sui generis. I pointed out that this was not the case at all. Numerous countries in Europe either had or were contemplating laws prohibiting the expression of ideas that incited racial animosity, insulted particular racial groups, etc.

Looks like India is on the bandwagon as well: an Indian court is hearing testimony on whether Liz Hurley's wedding "insulted Hindu tradition," a crime under 295 A of the Indian Penal Code, which makes it an offence punishable by three years in jail to "outrage" any group's religion with "deliberate and malicious intention." (Story on yahoo)

The U.S. is fortunately still "behind the curve" on this issue, thank God. We still have relatively free speech here, but I wonder for how much longer. It appears to me that free speech is another crazy libertarian idea from last century that will gradually be whittled away in the name of fairness, equality, justice, social cooperation, etc.

I think that sometime in my lifetime, we'll see a world in which the 1st Amendment of the Constitution is as relevant as the whole thing about limited government and enumerated powers.

[neverforgetlol]

Somalia

[Metric]

You have to remember that the 1st amendment was written in a time before modern communication and media, when it took weeks to send a simple message from state to state. Obviously they didn't mean that "the people" should have the right to free speech in the way now interpreted by free speech nuts and other crazies.

[mosdef]

Fortunately here in Canada freedom of speech is alive and well, even though I don't really approve of our current conservative governkLDOHVH*(()_!!_ STEPHEN HARPER IS AWESOME. THAT IS ALL.

[DVaut1]

[ QUOTE ]
You have to remember that the 1st amendment was written in a time before modern communication and media, when it took weeks to send a simple message from state to state. Obviously they didn't mean that "the people" should have the right to free speech in the way now interpreted by free speech nuts and other crazies.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you're being sarcastic, I missed it.

If you're not being sarcastic, I agree, we've always been at war with Eurasia.

[xorbie]

I take issue with the idea that it's somehow the liberal idealogues that will be the ones to erase free speech in the US.

[bkholdem]

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I take issue with the idea that it's somehow the liberal idealogues that will be the ones to erase free speech in the US.

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What difference does it make who it is? Won't it be people who want to control other people?

[xorbie]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I take issue with the idea that it's somehow the liberal idealogues that will be the ones to erase free speech in the US.

[/ QUOTE ]

What difference does it make who it is? Won't it be people who want to control other people?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I'm just saying let's identify where the threat currently is.

[bkholdem]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I take issue with the idea that it's somehow the liberal idealogues that will be the ones to erase free speech in the US.

[/ QUOTE ]

What difference does it make who it is? Won't it be people who want to control other people?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I'm just saying let's identify where the threat currently is.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe I did that.

[xorbie]

Being vague and sounding cool isn't the same as being helpful.