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I think people are misunderstanding what exactly “freedom of speech” is. Freedom of speech does not mean you can go around misrepresenting the truth. A democratic form of government cannot survive unless people can freely voice their political opinions and criticize government actions or polices.
Of course there are restrictions on you’re freedom of speech, for example the burning of a U.S. Flag is not protected by the first amendment, even though it has been argued that doing so is a freedom of expression. The government has to be able to place restraints on people’s freedom of speech but only when they are necessary to protect other substantial interest and rights. This is why we have courts to determine the point at which laws restricting free speech can be justified by the need to protect other rights.
Consequentially if someone were to run around saying untrue things like "your baby was just run over by a dump truck." And this statement caused some type of harm to the other party For example ( and yeah I’m exaggerating a bit on the consequences here.) The mother of the baby then commits suicide. The father/husband of the victims here could sue the person who misrepresented the truth, if this person had knowledge that the statement was in fact untrue, and used it with malicious intent, this could probably fall under the tort of intentional infliction of emotion distress, if you stretch if far enough, blah blah blah.

Yes I went of on a tangent here but I think it’s important that people understand what freedom of speech means.

Cliff notes: not all things are protected under freedom of speech.

right, I realize that but is it possible that the danish people should be restricted from publishing cartoons that bash a culture? It is a liberal nation, but that doesn't mean they can be **** distubers.

Sorry, I was not clear on the fact that saying things such as "your baby was run over by a dump truck" is illegal. I was trying to make the point that if something like that is illegal, maybe it should be illegal to make culturally bashing cartoons that cause violence?

This post has been edited by jayi12-15psi: Feb 9, 2006 - 2:00 PM

I know what you're saying Jay. The problem is that ( well at least in America) Freedom of speech for the media and corporations is different then freedom of speach for the everyday man.

In this case because these cartoon are clearly offensive material they probably should not be protected under the right of freedom of speechin the opinion of the people it is offending, on the other hand, This is something in the media, people also have the right to pay no attention to it, no one is forcing people to view these cartoons.

For example: Even in the US numerous state and federal statues make it a crime to disseminate obsecene materials, however, the Supreme Court has often uphelf such laws, including laws prohibiting the sale and posession of child ponography. I find that offensive, as do most people, and IMO it should not be leagal,but that is only my opinion and i chose not to buy said obscene materials which is also my choice.

Determining what is protected under freedom of speech and what isn't is treading on thin ice.

controversial issue this is.

This post has been edited by ILuvMyCelica95: Feb 9, 2006 - 2:01 PM

I'm not sure what publication these cartoons are printed in, but lets say you opened up a copy of the daily paper and something in their cartoons offended you? You most likely would not resort to violence, but you'd be upset non the less.

I know it's a controversial issue, that's why I'm asking it. What do you guys think should be protected under free speech and what should not be protected? Should the United States interfere in this instance?

I don't think the US should interfere at all.

good taste and respect should rule over all

Do you find the fact that they are burning our flag offensive? I'm not an evil right-wing anti liberal, but I do find that very offensive as I'm not some peace loving, no-war-at-any-cost hippie. Perhaps I find it as offensive as they find the cartoons, but I'm not about to shed blood.
I do however think these extremists can't just **** all over America's name.

I'm having my cake and eating it too.

I think the world is getting sick of the conflicts in the middle-east, but they're also getting tired of our antics.

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Good taste and respect according to who?

Like i think my car is done in good taste according to me, but you might think it's hideous. everyone is entitled to their own opinion. These people just happened to show it through a cartoon.

This post has been edited by ILuvMyCelica95: Feb 9, 2006 - 2:27 PM

They are just using it as a reason to start more violoence. I dont think its so much the cartoon as it is EVERYTHING thats going on over there.

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When I find a way to make this a universally applied ideal, I will rule supreme.

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Sure i find it offensive, it's meant to be offensive. People offend people and that is life. I'm not about to go out and kill someone because they hate America. They are free to hate whoever they choose. I don't think America needs to "flex their muscles” on this issue.

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true. but at the same time, generally speaking, a car does not invoke as much emotion as one's religion.

i see this on the news, and i always think, they could not have thought this was a good idea. "Hey, lets make cartoons about religions! Yeah, that would be hilarious!"

edit: thought about it, didnt want to open up another can of worms.

This post has been edited by LuDaChRiS: Feb 9, 2006 - 2:40 PM

First of all. How many of you have actually SEEN the cartoons they're talking about?

Heres a link because I dont know if due to its controversy it should be posted: http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/698

Now most of them, arent even funny. Theres one (virgins one) thats funny. The thing is this is how people cope with some stuff, they make jokes. Ever heard of the saying you either laugh or you cry? The reason that alot of ppl resort to violence is because many are uneducated and dont know anything else. The world is never going to be a 100% peaceful place, everything offends somebody at some point. Is this worth going to war over? Absolutely not. But if people who find this offensive are getting violent over it, then they gotta be put down. Being offended is one thing, you can get over it, being dead is another, killing people is another, you cant get over that.

Free speech is a natural right. You as a living being have the right to worship w/e u do, say how you feel about something, but if it what your saying endangers lives, and you still say it, then you need to be shut up. These cartoons we never meant to endanger peoples lives, they're simply offensive. The offended decided to take it over the line and get violent.

The cartoons are listed on the first page, and I saw the cartoons before I made this post. I even posted some more extreme anti-Jew cartoons to show that the violence is rediculous, nobody should die over this, I think we can all agree to that. However there are alot of things that people shouldn't die over, but they do. They didn't mean to, but the creators of these cartoons did unintentionally, indirectly cause this outcry. I'm not saying that they are 100% to blame, but I think we need to consider the fact that the simple free speech can be used as a weapon in areas of the world where people have different values than we do in America.

Sure, in most of the world it wouldn't be a deadly offense to insult one's religion, but it's obviously a deadly offense in some places.

I would like to state again, I don't think these cartoons justify violence or death.


Super, you say that the people being violent over these offenses need to be "put down." Who will put these violent protesters "down."

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i posted a link to teh cartoons previosly

also thats interesting you think the virgin one is funny! I find that personally as a woman to be the worst one.

That one's pretty bad, I think the one where he has a bomb for a head is pretty terrible.

I would have thought this debate would have been alot more lopsided, I'msurprised it's only 7-18

This post has been edited by jayi12-15psi: Feb 9, 2006 - 4:00 PM

The country in which violent protests are occurring are reponsible for settling this.

I'm all for staying out of this.

well, these riots are not starting to spread into western africa, this could actually become a global crisis affecting many countries. Many of these are third world countries, with weak governments incapable of putting down mass riots. I personally don't think we should intervene, but if we wait until the riots hit the US shores it might be too late to escape major violence. Tension with the Muslim world has been spreading forever, I suppose the UN will mediate conflicts as they get out of hand?

i love the muslim culture. its fascinating to me! i actually own the Quran. dont own a bible though! lol! :-)

This post has been edited by BlackCelicaGT94: Feb 9, 2006 - 4:43 PM

You guys gotta remember that over there all they have is Hate. Its what they know. It is what comforts them. They fight all the time.

Also, remember that the middle east countries fought with Europe all the time, heck almost even took over europe at one point. The fighting bewtween Them and us have only recently stopped(last 200-300 years. Once they stopped fightin Europe they fought themselves. Also it didn't help when the british owned that area as territories then just left leaving no government to run things.

Do I think they are going overboard, yes, but we aren't borught up in a world that consists of Hate and war. Its all they know...

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I dont think i fully agree with this statement. You cant generalize and say THEY like its all of them over there know hate! Thats not true. I think you should find a different way to state that.,

This post has been edited by BlackCelicaGT94: Feb 9, 2006 - 5:13 PM

I didn't mean every single person. But in General its what they know. I mean since I've been alive (im 27) I haven't ever heard of peace over there. Im not saying that everyone resorts to violence, but hate and violence is what they have a lot of and its what they are born into and what they grow up with. A child growing up isn't taught to talk when they get in an arguement like what we are over here. Society is different here, that when 2 sides disagree we try to talk it over first. There they kinda skip that step and resort to violence. I mean it is a totally different mindset of hate. To kill yourself b/c you are so pissed at someone else for having different ideals than you is just not anything that we think about over here.

By no means am I saying that every single person is like that, but I think a good 20% are.

This post has been edited by Jeremy1210: Feb 10, 2006 - 9:55 AM

okay by saying " I haven't heard of peace over there" were exactly do you mean. You've never heard of peace in a muslim country or in the middle east or were exactly. Do you know why the palestinians are angry at the jews. Do you know why they don't like the US policys. 20% of Who are in that state of Hate as you put it, Muslims?