tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162431493776686444.post3569049378627800207..comments2023-10-29T05:13:15.825-05:00Comments on Another War-on-Terror Blog: Which Needs Protecting: People's Feelings, or Freedom of Speech?Brian H. Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162431493776686444.post-34362409330067932432008-01-06T13:52:00.000-06:002008-01-06T13:52:00.000-06:00always on watch, thanks for taking the time to com...always on watch, thanks for taking the time to comment. <BR/><BR/>The point is, indeed, preserving the right of people to express ideas. However, free speech does not appear to be an either-or concept. I'm aware of no culture, since records have been kept, that had absolute free speech.<BR/><BR/>The trick is to determine where to draw the line. For example, in today's America, <BR/>* There seems to be broad agreement that the creation and distribution of child pornography should be controlled, if not banned (1)<BR/>* Attempts to limit who is allowed to speak on behalf of political candidates have, for the most part, not succeeded<BR/><BR/>Both are "speech," at least in a sense, but while kiddie porn has few supporters, freedom to support a political candidate seems an obviously-necessary right. <BR/><BR/>There's an interesting discussion of free speech at <A HREF="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/freedom-speech/" REL="nofollow">plato.stanford.edu/entries/freedom-speech/</A>.<BR/><BR/>((1) I'm aware that child pornography has its advocates: otherwise it wouldn't exist.)Brian H. Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13209697542675181894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4162431493776686444.post-83226328295303537542008-01-06T06:03:00.000-06:002008-01-06T06:03:00.000-06:00I'm not so much defending what Lionheart, the Engl...<I>I'm not so much defending what Lionheart, the English blogger, is writing, as defending his right to post it.</I><BR/><BR/>That's the point, isn't it?<BR/><BR/>Either a society has free speech--or it does not.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.com