I don't understand.

I'd like an american person to explain to me how it works.

How can you have a country where KKK can exist but if you say that a movie star is gay you can be sued for millions?

I'm serious. I really don't understand.

The First Amendment is the most important.

^I agree.

i agree with abzurd why do we have KKK and all these other things but if you say one wrong thing just fooling around with your friends or whatever you get sued or put i jail.

total freedom of speech isn't allowed: if you defame someone's name you can go to jail.

i agree with the first amendment, but i'm not sure that we pursue it properly. i like the way abzurd put it.

Its a nice theory isnt it.

On 7/3/2005 6:28:17 PM abzurd wrote: I don't understand. I'd like an american person to explain to me how it works. How can you have a country where KKK can exist but if you say that a movie star is gay you can be sued for millions? I'm serious. I really don't understand.

Freedom of speech allows people to state opinions or speak out against something. It was created so people could say things against government or religion without repercussion. So, for example, I can say I hate a person or a race or a political party -- that is an opinion. BUT, if I say someone is gay, cheats, lies, or whatever, and it isn't true, that is slander (if it is written it is liable) -- which is illegal. You cannot say something which purposely causes harm either -- like yelling "fire" in a theater.

^^^So I can publicly claim that McDonald is bad food without being sued, since it's my opinion? Or Am I damaging them and they can sue me.

The First Amendment alone doesn't go too far, it's the people that do things in it's name that are going too far.

The liberals love to push it too far.

First of all, free speech doesn't exist. If you think so, you're naive. There are many situations in which you can be censored, matters regarding national security being the most obvious. Second of all, in response to absurd. The First Ammendment secures your right to express yourself, but not to consciously engage in libel or slander.

yes...if people didnt have freedom of speech then wed be screwed...

On 7/24/2005 9:29:03 PM abzurd wrote: ^^^So I can publicly claim that McDonald is bad food without being sued, since it's my opinion? Or Am I damaging them and they can sue me.

no you can speak out agaisnt that. Thats your opinion and they cant do anything about that.
Like the Peta people that are agaisnt Jennifer Lopez. Shes using real animal fur in her new clothing line. I HATE JLO. we should skin her and stick her on a coat.

There is no way the first amendment can go to far. It clearly outlines what speech is not allowed and people have covered that already. The reason it seems weird becuase it alows nazi's, KKK, and even christian conservative groups to preach hate is that the framers of the country's biggest reason for amendment is to preserve the voices of the minority.

It may seem in some people's opinion that people like howard stern abuse the first amendment but that's only based on the majority's veiw of what is appropriate language.

The First Amendment is perhaps one of the most important of them all, as it is characteristic to our country's reason of existance. The United States was founded upon total and individual freedom, and that's what it's all about, so anyone can have a voice. Even suggesting that it is possible for the First Amendment to go "too far" it insane.

In fact, freedom of speech should be further expanded, so that there is true freedom of speech, andywhere and everywhere.

sometimes.

On 7/3/2005 8:55:33 PM sexy_sponge wrote: i agree with abzurd why do we have KKK and all these other things but if you say one wrong thing just fooling around with your friends or whatever you get sued or put i jail.

It's a little thing lawyers like to call slander. You can't spread rumors that someone is a (whatever) without proof.

I mean, I can call the KKK a bunch of buttnugget sniffing assrammers. Because they are (it's been well documented).

I even have video...

Well, if you think about it, no. Because they may have said speech, but they said nothing about "writing"...

"Brave and strong, Falgore....!!"

not at all

I think the first amendment goes exactly far enough.

the first amendment doesn't allow complete freedom of speach, as far as I know.