If this belongs in Religion and Politics I apologize for mis-posting it, and ask the mods to post it in the correct forum.
But my question is this: Why Freedom of Speech, aka the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, so misunderstood? And I don't mean just on the internet, people on t.v. news and talk shows misunderstand it too.
So many people think that 'Freedom of Speech' means that they can say what ever they want, wherever and whenever they want without consequences. And if they do get in non-legal trouble (i.e. suspended from school, suspended/banned from a forum or fired from a job) they complain about having their right to free speech violated.
'Freedom of Speech' means that the United States Government cannot pass any laws to limit speech, and cannot arrest people for what they say. Threats of violence or death, and slander and lible are not protected by 'Freedom of Speech'
Slander definition- noun
1.
defamation; calumny: rumors full of slander.
2.
a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
3.
Law . defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc.
Libel definition- noun
1.
Law .
a.
defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.
b.
the act or crime of publishing it.
c.
a formal written declaration or statement, as one containing the allegations of a plaintiff or the grounds of a charge.
2.
anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents.
Free Speech means that I can go up to anyone on the street and call them a jack-ass prick and I won't get arrested. I might get hit, but I won't get arrested.
I can publicly announce that I think President George W. Bush or President Barrack Obama, to be fair and give an example from both political sides, is a raving, psychotic, Nazi-loving maniac (though I don't feel that way towards either man) and I won't get arrested, though I may suffer some fallout and catch some flack for my beliefs. If I were to say that either of them was a raving, psychotic, Nazi-loving maniac, then I might get into trouble for slander or libel, depending on which medium I made that announcement in. That's how Glenn Beck gets away with the crazy crap he says, by 'asking question' instead of making statements.
And I realize that people might feel strongly about this topic, but please keep this thread civilized and respectful.
But my question is this: Why Freedom of Speech, aka the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, so misunderstood? And I don't mean just on the internet, people on t.v. news and talk shows misunderstand it too.
So many people think that 'Freedom of Speech' means that they can say what ever they want, wherever and whenever they want without consequences. And if they do get in non-legal trouble (i.e. suspended from school, suspended/banned from a forum or fired from a job) they complain about having their right to free speech violated.
'Freedom of Speech' means that the United States Government cannot pass any laws to limit speech, and cannot arrest people for what they say. Threats of violence or death, and slander and lible are not protected by 'Freedom of Speech'
Slander definition- noun
1.
defamation; calumny: rumors full of slander.
2.
a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
3.
Law . defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc.
Libel definition- noun
1.
Law .
a.
defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.
b.
the act or crime of publishing it.
c.
a formal written declaration or statement, as one containing the allegations of a plaintiff or the grounds of a charge.
2.
anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents.
Free Speech means that I can go up to anyone on the street and call them a jack-ass prick and I won't get arrested. I might get hit, but I won't get arrested.
I can publicly announce that I think President George W. Bush or President Barrack Obama, to be fair and give an example from both political sides, is a raving, psychotic, Nazi-loving maniac (though I don't feel that way towards either man) and I won't get arrested, though I may suffer some fallout and catch some flack for my beliefs. If I were to say that either of them was a raving, psychotic, Nazi-loving maniac, then I might get into trouble for slander or libel, depending on which medium I made that announcement in. That's how Glenn Beck gets away with the crazy crap he says, by 'asking question' instead of making statements.
And I realize that people might feel strongly about this topic, but please keep this thread civilized and respectful.
