Posted on 04/28/2011 8:39:38 PM PDT by TheConservativeCitizen
In a travesty of justice, Florida’s Pastor Jones was put on trial in last week in Dearborn Michigan, he was found guilty of threatening to protest in front of a mosque (possibly burning a Koran in the process). He was ordered to pay a 1$ dollar bond fee, and is prohibited from approaching the mosque for 3 years, when he refused to pay the fee he was jailed. This decision by six jurors and a judge (who I assume went to law school at some point) exposes the complete Constitutional illiteracy of our populace and even judiciary. Here are three simple rules that the jurors should have had explained to them before deciding the case:
1. The content of free speech is irrelevant. What is said has no effect on the legality of speech. There is no difference between burning a Koran and encouraging people to adopt kittens. To even mention the content of free speech when discussing its legality is to prove ones ignorance on the subject.
2. The location of free speech is irrelevant. Where free speech is uttered, has no effect on its legality. There is no difference between burning a Koran in front of a mosque, and burning one in the middle of the woods. To even mention the location of free speech when discussing its legality is to prove ones ignorance on the subject.
3. The reaction of others to free speech is irrelevant. How listeners react to speech has no effect on its legality. There is no difference between burning a Koran in front of a million people, or doing it alone without a single witness. To even mention the possible reaction of third parties to free speech when discussing it legality is to prove ones ignorance on the subject.
The government can put limitations on free speech only within very narrow boundaries when standards of decency or safety are violated. One cannot slander or incite a riot, one cannot protest inside the Pentagon or scream profanities outside a kindergarten. But outside these very limited restrictions without which society cannot function, free expression should be uninhibited. Certainly no opinion can or should be censored.
So with all this said, does Pastor Jones have the right to say people should adopt kittens, while he is standing alone in the middle of the woods? If your answer is yes, you must also accept his right to burn a Koran in front of a mosque during Friday prayers.
What is this web site that it doesn’t know how to write “$1”?
Free speech does not exist any more.
The author is a Russian immigrant. The rest of the world doesn’t always do things the same way we do it here.
A big lawsuit is coming towards dearborn/detroit...A man that burned pages of the koran at ground zero 2 years ago just got a big settlement from NY. He also worked for the city and they fired him...He is getting 2 years back pay, 25,000 dollars and reinstated in his job. The city also has to pay the ACLU attorney fee’s. The first time I have agreeed with the ACLU. I am not sure of the salary but I think it was over 68000 a year.
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