tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post8497242805645720767..comments2024-02-23T04:39:49.329-05:00Comments on Conversations in Klal: Freedom of Speech--how far and whenProfKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954446826821665314noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-73056404909376065652010-04-15T13:42:02.403-04:002010-04-15T13:42:02.403-04:00Well...there is fundamentally a difference between...Well...there is fundamentally a difference between holding up a protest sign and painting a swastika on a building. One is destruction of property (a crime), the other is "speech". Freedom of speech doesn't mean a PETA member gets to dump blood on a fur wearer without paying a penalty. It does allow them to scream slurs at the wearer.<br /><br />On the face of it, as repugnant as the group's behavior is, they didn't actually disrupt the proceedings in question and conducted their protest on public land. There is no private/public aspect (by his own admission, Snyder didn't hear or see the protesters). As sympathetic as I am to Snyder (generally speaking, the defendants in these kinds of cases are lowlifes--here is no exception), I can't see the Supreme Court ruling in his favor. The crowded theater example just doesn't hold water. I do, however, think that the judgment forcing Snyder to pay the court costs was inappropriate. <br /><br />The big issue here is one of civility (which is seemingly dying in this country), not speech. Just because one is free to do something, doesn't mean one should. As a journalist I'm utterly astounded at how many of my brethren claim freedom of speech and press to engage in a myriad amount of loathesome behavior.<br /><br />As for the hate crime issue: I wish the Supreme Court would obliterate the entire concept of the hate crime, which is essentially being punished for what you think, not for what you do. That is most definitely a consitutional abomination. If you kill (assault or whatever) someone, it shouldn't matter whether you did it because he was black, Jewish, or he cheated you. The end result is the same and that's what someone should be getting punished for.profk_offspringnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-18284607604173600202010-04-15T12:35:59.501-04:002010-04-15T12:35:59.501-04:00There's also the problem of the NYT and anonym...There's also the problem of the NYT and anonymous comments. Is that still Freedom of Speech I wonder, as you'll still be exercise it?NonymousGhttp://gtorah.com/noreply@blogger.com