Posted on 09/14/2010 6:19:55 AM PDT by kristinn
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has expressed a willingness to ban protesters from burning the Koran as the modern day equivalent of shouting fire in a crowded theater.
The Supreme Court has ruled burning the American flag in protest is protected speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Breyer spoke to George Stephanopoulos on ABC's Good Morning America today:
But Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer told me on "GMA" that he's not prepared to conclude that -- in the internet age -- the First Amendment condones Koran burning.
Holmes said it doesnt mean you can shout 'fire' in a crowded theater, Breyer told me. Well, what is it? Why? Because people will be trampled to death. And what is the crowded theater today? What is the being trampled to death?
Breyer is promoting his new book, Making Our Democracy Work.
Breyer was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1994 by President Bill Clinton.
People like to describe Jones as a “nut”...Hell, by muslim standards he’s completely mainstream...
It’s like Breyer and Patty Murray share the same empty head.
There’s a guy in the fifth row back second in from the left who is not clapping. Must be a troll!
How about not allowing the United States military to burn Bibles?
If burning the Koran is banned, and burning the Bible or Torah or any other holy book is not, then the federal government has become illegitimate, and “when in the course of human events” that happens, it must be replaced. By force of the people, if necessary.
“Indeed. But you know, I suspect many of the guys at the Alamo for example had to be a little nutty, too. “
We need some of those nuts TODAY - in Washington.
So apparently the new standard of “free” speech would be that you’re not allowed to say anything that would upset someone enough that they would commit criminal acts? So speech would be protected only if large enough numbers threatened sufficient violence. Somehow I just don’t think our founding fathers had that notion of free speech in mind when they were seeking to protect it from the likes of Breyer and other similar fascists. As a matter of fact, I think just they had just the opposite in mind. Namely, our founders protected free speech precisely because it incited the British to do violence against those who spoke freely.
Agreed. That guy has changed the world. And he didn’t even burn a Koran.
The problem with Breyer’s “shouting fire in a crowed theater” argument is that it’s only prohibited if there is, in fact, no fire. With regard to koran - there IS a fire. Its teachings result in thousands of murders all over the globe. In this case the theater is on fire. And it would be wrong not to warn people as loudly as possible.
...or getting ready to yell "FIRE!!!"
And not even people in THIS COUNTRY but in foreign countries to be named later.
The ghost of David Crockett riding.
THIS is the reason that it must be done - it is NOT stupid, it is a defense of the constitution.
No joke!! I always thought Breyer was evil. But actually stupid?
After hearing his arguments in McDonald and now this I am convinced he is an intellectual lightweight of the highest order.
I can only imagine the wrath that would come down on him from Scalia during arguments before the Supreme Court on this. Not that the court will have occasion to decide this issue any time soon.
I didn't get a Harumpf from that guy!"
Would Breyer ban burning of the Torah?
Excellent post.
Odd you should mention The Alamo...since I’m proudly wearing my Alamo t-shirt today (not talking about a rent-a-car either).
How'd I know!?
You're lucky. I was at the t-shirt stand just behind Santa Anna's artillery but they had already sold out. You must've got there early!
So just threaten to kill and no one will be able to insult you?
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