Posted on 07/18/2006 12:49:14 PM PDT by aomagrat
See, that's self-serving nonsense. The First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law" abridging freedom of the press or freedom of speech. In this case, no government body has made a law restricting this organization from doing anything. What has happened is that a private property owner (the railroad) has decided what can and cannot be done on his property. Since their actions are within the law, no one has any right to tell them what can be posted on a billboard they own. This is NOT a freedom of speech issue.
NASCAR didn't abide by the lease contract so the sign was taken down. What's the big deal? If they want to put up the sign again, buy their own land.
Yeah, and people who own a motel have the right to not rent rooms to people they don't like, right?
Of course it's a freedom of speech issue. Just because the sign is privately owned, like a motel, it must treat everyone equally.
The liberals did it to themselves.
"Yeah, and people who own a motel have the right to not rent rooms to people they don't like, right?"
People who own a hotel can refuse to rent for various reasons, but not the color of your skin.
"Of course it's a freedom of speech issue. Just because the sign is privately owned, like a motel, it must treat everyone equally."
So you want to make confederate heritage groups a protected class? What about birdwatchers? Fat people? Gays?
'Outlaw Josey Wales' is one of my favorite movies. But, what does that have to do with NASCAR?
NA$CAR didn't lease the sign, the Sons of Confederate Veterans did. NA$CAR just complained about it.
You are both right of course. It is not a freedom of speech issue and a landowner should be able to do whatever with their own land, which the railroad did. However I do have to agree with the comment in the article Re: had this been an ad for NAACP membership not one word would have been said. In the unlikely event that something was said or the sign removed, lawsuits would have been sure to follow. There are groups one can disrepect with impunity and groups one must revere.. apparently.
Dixie ping!
The damnyankees have already infested the thread...
I'm a big supporter of Southern heritage, but I don't think this group has a legal or ethical leg to stand on. The property owner has a right to do whatever he or she wants with his or her property. Period. Calling this "a blow against the First Amendment" strikes me as being a bit disingenuous.
NASCAR can go to hell!The yankee agitators need to be kicked back north where they belong with their stupid ideas and treasonous trash.
"If they want to put up the sign again, buy their own land."
Or find a property owner along US 52 willing to rent space on his land. It would seem to me that the Sons of the Confederate Veterans should have no problem finding a landowner along US 52 in Darlington, SC, willing to put up a sign honoring the Confederate flag and defending Southern heritage.
Memo to Johnny Reb. The Civil War is over. Stop fighting it.
How does someone get away with putting up signs on other people's property without their permission in the first place?
I didn't see anything in the article.
As big a son of the South as I am, I have to agree. Yes, the railroad knuckled under (quite possibly under blackmail from some of the local NAACP-style race pimps) but it's private property and they have the right to ask that the billboard be removed. It's not a First Amendment issue.
Besides, if NASCAR has their way, it sure looks like they won't be racing at Darlington much longer anyway. It wouldn't surprise me if they yank the one remaining race away from their loyal South Carolina fan base in pursuit of mythical fans up north. As went North Wilkesboro, so may go Rockingham and Darlington.
}:-)4
As I said, if you follow the logic, the liberals did it to themselves.
Why can't the ancestors of Confederates be a protected group? They lost the war. Surely, they must be victims.
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