SC - OT - inalienable freedom of speech

[R. Trigg]

Brenna said in Re: SC - OT - inalienable freedom of speech at Nov/25/1998, 
Wed 23:47:37.

> And another thing is that it's not a guaranteed right.  Ever met someone 
> who tells a police officer or judge to "Go to hell?" It's not a pretty sight.  Exercise 
> your freedom of speech, just not at anyone in authority.  Most of our rights have
> loopholes, most for good reason.  Exercise your freedom of religion, just 
> don't infringe on anyone elses' rights in the process (ie don't use them as human
> sacrifices or pursecute them for your religion).  Exercise your freedom of  press,
> unless it's a matter of national security.
> 
Actually, you are always free to express your opinion (politely), even to 
someone in authority; you are *not* free to obstruct the function of an 
officer of the law (which telling them to "go to hell" effectively does) 
nor are you free to cause a riot or disturbance with your words (the famous 
example of yelling "fire" in a crowded movie theater) nor are you free to 
libel or slander someone. 

Unfortunately, too many Americans take their freedoms for granted and 
blithely forget that there *are* limits. Even worse, too many want to 
further curb what freedoms we have, forgetting that once you start picking 
and choosing who gets to have these freedoms, sooner or later no one will 
have them. 

Nostas'ia Stepanova


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