Auggie wrote on Mar 8
th, 2017 at 12:51pm:
Freedom of speech gives the right to offend, even in the case of these 'protesters.'
I use the example from the American Supreme Court in determining the limits of free speech: "there needs to be a reasonable threat of imminent violence as a result of the speaker." If there is no such threat, then the speech is permissible.
So, as much as I hate to say it, these protesters have the right to protest with those placards; just as neo-Nazis have the right to protest with placards....
There's only an issue when the police and/or authorities treat two different groups differently. For e.g. they allow the Muslims to protest, but not the neo-Nazis.
Auggie wrote on Mar 8
th, 2017 at 7:45pm:
......I was merely using it as a reference point to identify one interpretation of the limits of free speech, in my view. Ultimately, if the law determines that something is unlawful, then it's unlawful.
What I'm talking about here is the difference between civic duty and law.
I personally believe we all have a civic duty to call out bigots; but I don't think the government should use its coercive power to stifle free speech or imprison people for bigotry.
Dictionary;
bigot = = a person who is prejudiced in their views and intolerant of the opinions of others.[i.e. a person who would prefer it, if those who do not share his own opinion/worldview, would just shut up!]
Dictionary;
prejudice = = preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. unjust behaviour formed on such a basis.[e.g. prejudice, would be, a personal judgement taken/made by someone,
without a basis in knowledge about an issue.]
In a public forum, in any public debate, anyone can ignorantly express an opinion on a particular issue.
But i would argue, that such expressed [ignorant] opinions
which cannot be substantiated,
are revealed to all, to be worthless [invalid].
In any public debate,
on any issue, if an argument is indeed valid/sound, then it always needs to be presented with
some evidences and/or reasoning, and/or proofs [which could be challenged].
But time and again, in any important public debate today, we can see
bigots [attacking others with personal denigration and slurs against their character] trying to shut down debate, in order to try to silence anyone who does not share their own opinion/worldview.
Bigots, are antithetical to the concept of
free and open public debate.
Bigots, are those who want to silence and shut down,
free and open public debate [on issues that they 'have an interest in'].