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To: Ksnavely
In a free society, one person's rights end where another person's rights begin. As the Supreme Court has put it, "a person's right to swing his fist ends where another person's nose begins."

Any person is free to agree with or disagree with Pat Robertson's statements. However, there is an enormous difference between disagreement and demanding a retraction or apology. Disagreement is consistent with a free society. Demanding a retraction or apology is an attempt to replace freedom with group think.

The Muslims have every right to debate the merits of his statements, they have no right to demand an apology for his opinions.

As Ben Franklin said, when you allow a man freedom, you accept what is good and what is bad about him (paraphrase).
Freedom does not allow the option of demanding only the good.

Dictators and tyrants don't seek popular support to place themselves in power by stating they want to suppress freedom (Hitler was elected originally).Instead, they create support through the lie that they can obtain only what is good in men and change the bad. Circumstances will dictate what is good and what is bad and who is good and who is bad, but the flawed thinking is the same.

Any society that believes you can, or should even try, to change what is wrong in your view about another man-- regardless of the merits-- is on the road to tyranny.
324 posted on 05/04/2005 1:45:47 AM PDT by usa1776
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To: usa1776
Asking some one to apologize is not analogous to a fist connecting to the nose. There is no violation of free speech to demand an apology and a retraction if you feel the words were harmful. Free speech would not be violated until either party resorted to physical coercive tactics to force the other party to capitulate.

"Demanding a retraction or apology is an attempt to replace freedom with group think."

No it is not, plus the other party has the RIGHT now to follow the group think, again if there is no physical coercion than rights have not been violated.

"they have no right to demand an apology for his opinions."

Yes they do, just as you have a right to demand an apology from me if you feel I said something slanderous about you. Again I have the right to accept or reject your demand.

"
Any society that believes you can, or should even try, to change what is wrong in your view about another man regardless of the merit's is on the road to tyranny."

So you don't want to change the view point of a bunch of liberals and entitlement centered people? My point is simple, we are not on the road to tyranny because we have a good constitution and checks and balances to protect our freedoms. Those mechanisms are what keep our rights secure, not whether or not a Islamic group demands an apology from Pat.
344 posted on 05/04/2005 7:59:09 AM PDT by Ksnavely
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