Posted on 12/11/2015 12:54:49 PM PST by reaganaut1
There used to be a strong consensus in America that people were entitled to speak their minds. That was not just because the First Amendment stated that government was not permitted to punish people for arguing their beliefs or to censor their writings if they disturbed those in power.
Most Americans thought that free speech was one of the "blessings of liberty" that made our nation exceptional. Sure, many people would say and write terribly mistaken or dangerous things, but it was vastly better to argue with them than to try silencing them.
Sadly, that laissez-faire approach to speech is rapidly eroding.
One reason is that the values of free speech and debate are not taught in our schools the way they once were. In fact, students in American high schools often hear the opposite from their teachers. As Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) writes in his recent book Unlearning Liberty, "A shameful level of civics knowledge, in combination with the miserable state of student rights in K-12, leaves students uninformed about the importance of free speech and distressingly comfortable with censorship."
A second reason why free speech is under siege is that the forces of political authoritarianism have discovered that they can use power to silence their opponents - and get away with it. Even if they don't succeed in preventing opponents from making their arguments, they see no reason not to try because so few Americans still hold the principles of free speech dear.
We have seen this anti-speech mindset at work on our college campuses, where student groups, sometimes aided and abetted by faculty members, have repeatedly worked to keep speakers off campus because their views are ones they disagree with.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Under siege from the LEFT, the so-called “progressives” of the nation.
Free speech - to “Progressives” — has always meant shouting down opposing viewpoints.
Here are their opinions:
Sharia in America: "51% of U.S. Muslims (1.5M) ... polled believe ... that they should have the choice of American or Sharia courts" (1)
Reject U.S. Law: 61%. Only "39% of (U.S. Muslims, ~1.2M) said that Muslims in the U.S. should be subject to American courts." (1) That means the other 61% (~1.8M) of U.S. Muslims believe they should not be subject to American courts.
Sharia Superiority: 33% of U.S. Muslims (~1M) believe that "If Sharia conflicts with the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights", then Sharia "should be considered supreme." (1)
Violence against First Amendment Rights: 29% (~900,000) U.S. Muslims agree that "violence against those who insult the prophet mohammed, the quran, or the Islamic faith is sometimes acceptable." (1)
Sharia by Jihad: 11% of U.S. Muslims (~330,000) believe that Sharia is "The Muslims god allah's Law that Muslims must follow and impose world-wide via Jihad" (1)
(1) https://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2015/06/23/nationwide-poll-of-us-muslims-shows-thousands-support-shariah-jihad/
Keep in mind that the bias of respondents should be to shade their answers to be more acceptable to other Americans, lest they become the targets of legal investigation for their subversive opinions. Therefore, the results above should be considered the bare minimum, and the real opinion of American muslims is likely worse than shown.
islam is a totalitarian death cult founded by a child rapist.
Freedom of Speech.
With FREEDOM comes RESPONSIBILITY.
We are FREE to say whatever we want, but we have to be RESPONSIBLE for what we said.
How do you square your Christian faith with hatred of Muslims? (VANITY)
I want to live. I want my family to live. I want my friends to live. I want all peaceful people to live. - Take all four statements and outline them as a square and that how I square it. Make good judgement, love thy peaceful neighbor, hate evil.
Our servants are attempting to control their masters. This has got to stop. It is getting closer and closer when the masters are going to have to school the servants about who is really in control. Perhaps it is time to bring out the tar and feathers again and ride some of these arrogant authoritarians out of town on rails.
My hatred of muslims (many, not all) is well deserved: They want to kill me.
I’m Jewish.
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