"And groups like the neo-nazis are worthless idiots that spout hate but so do a lot of other groups in this country but IMO we can't go around shooting them all or disbanding them because of what they 'think' or even say."
As far as the above statement is concerned, and another like it somewhere in this thread, there were many folks of the same mindset in Europe, etc., during the 1930's.
I am stunned by the lack of accountability toward the Nazi's on this thread, the pass they've been given in that it's all the ignorant black New Orleans-like gang members' fault. I'm reminded of the time a bunch of us were standing around chatting, we all turned in unison to the sound of the ping of something connecting to metal. It was little Frederick's head against a support pole. My darling little boy stood there, smoking mad, obviously the culprit. I felt I had to reprimand him. Until he said, quietly, "He pushed me." My point is not that my son was right, but that there were two at fault.
I never thought I'd see an American give Nazis a right to free speech. I sure didn't think I'd see it here at Free Republic.
I can't get over anyone thinking that it's ok for nazis to showup to "correct" a neighborhood problem. Especially when the jury is still out on who the problem is.
I never thought I'd see an American give Nazis a right to free speech. I sure didn't think I'd see it here at Free Republic.
Obviously you would be more comfortable living in Europe, where the government will decide in advance what is "safe" for you to see and hear and say and write.
Meanwhile, however, we live in the USA, whose Constitution explicitly prohibits the government from passing laws that restrict the freedom of the press, the right to assemble, and the right to free speach. Nowhere does the Constitution say "....except for those nasty Nazis, gosh darn them, they don't have any rights at all!"
Contra what some people here are claiming, the BOR does not just "protect" our "right to criticise government". No; it restricts the power of our government to take away our rights - free speech included - no matter what good or bad purpose we put that free speech to. Yes, even "nazi speech" is protected.
The Bill of Rights says what it says. Get used to it. Even in the most liberal/leftist definition of what speech can be prohibited, these "nazis" in no way did anything to justify taking away their rights. When they step out of line and break the law (ie, issue actual threats), stomp on them just like you would any other lawbreaker. Until then, you have no case.
It was funny - but on the video I watched I couldn't see the strings the Nazis were using to control the rioters - maybe you watched in HD?
In fact, the Nazis never even marched.
The fault and responsibility for the riot rest solely with the rioters.
Radical political groups have had their right to free speech protected by U.S. Supreme Court decisions since around the end of WWI.
It's better for society, I think, to treat kook groups like the "Nazis," as the strange folks they are. They should be encouraged to change their views, mocked with some laughter, and confronted in a civilized way. This National Socialist Movement is unlikely to go anywhere because it is really too laughable. Someone donning a swastika armband isn't telling us very much other than that they are very much out of the mainstream and possibly mentally unbalanced. They might just get a perverse kick out of tweaking society's nose; I don't think any of us know. I think you're confusing the Nazis of WWII with these oddballs.
There are dangerous "right-wing" maniacs like Tom Metzger whom I would consider a much more serious threat than these clowns. They seem more into the Nazi 'fetish" than anything else.
qoute"I never thought I'd see an American give Nazis a right to free speech. I sure didn't think I'd see it here at Free Republic."
No American can "give" a right to another.Those rights are inherant at birth and endowed by the creator.No one grants or gives rights to another.We all have the same rights.All of us.
Free speech IS offensive speech,and protected by law.Restricting anothers' right to speak offensively because it is presumed to cause a violent offensive reaction in others is illegal and unconstitutional.
The people in that neighborhood who had been victimised by crime for years went to the cops and got no protection,they didnt belong to the correct victim group.They reached out to someone willing to make a public statement about it.Today we see the result.
I think you gravely misunderstand my posts, they are not intended to give anyone a free pass especially the likes of neo-nazis. Rather, the thrust of my posts were meant to keep the 'focus' on who went outside our laws to protest their particular view.
To illustrate this, recently FR counter-protested Cindy Sheehan's protest against the war in Iraq, our troops, and our President, calling him nothing less than a liar and wanton killer. This protest angered many, it was thought to even endanger the lives of our troops and embolden the enemy. But what did FR and other groups do about it? What they did was legally and peaceably assemble to counter-protest. No harm came to anyone though I am sure feelings were high. But how did the Blacks in Toledo counter-protest, what did they do??
That in sum was the intentions of my posts, to keep my focus on who broke laws, who went up against the civil obedience of our society and waged war against innocents. Blacks must learn to carry out their grievances against those they disagree with just like the rest of Society without causing harm to persons or property and that is my main contention.