Are We Lost?

Do you think that the first amendment preserves some of our most precious freedoms?

I do.

Some, however, have a viewpoint quite distinct from my own.

In Which Prominent Western Democracy do 42% of respondents to a recent survey disagree with the proposition that "People should be allowed to say things in public that might be offensive to religious groups," and 54% disagree with the proposition that "People should be allowed to say things in public that might be offensive to racial groups"?

In 1997, by the way, the numbers who likewise concluded that people shouldn't be allowed to say things that might be offensive to religious or racial groups were 53% and 75%, respectively. Note that the question wasn't phrased to cover only speech that is aimed at producing violence, discrimination, hatred, or even hostility, but rather to generally cover public speech "that might be offensive" to certain groups.

But wait, there's more: In that country, 38% of respondents agreed with the statement that "The government should be allowed to require broadcasters to report a specified amount of 'positive' news ...," and 62% stated agreed that "The government should be allowed to require newspapers to offer an equal allotment of time to ... commentators" of opposite ideology. I'm glad that here in the U.S., we have the First Amendment, and the Supreme Court has generally read it in a way that means such restrictions can't be imposed here.

Be sure to check out the link.  Frightening, actually, how many seem not to understand our freedoms - nor their value.

Comments

[Greg]

You will get no disagreement from me here. In fact I have consistently brought this point up several times only to be rebuked by you.

- For instance I got no response when I mentioned Newt Gingrich calls to limit free speech.

- No response from anyone when I mentioned the lady in Denver being arrested for McCain Bush poster.

- Not a peep when I showed the 80 year old deacon Don Zirkel being arrested for an anti-war t-shirt.

- Supreme court ruled in favor of a school that suspended a student for brandishing a banner proclaiming "Bong Hits 4 Jesus," in one of the more bizarre recent free-speech cases.

- People being arrested and ticketed for anti-Bush bumper stickers.

Again I am not disagreeing with you, but why has this suddenly caught your attention? These things have been going on for a while, and you would think of all people Conservatives would be the most up in arms about these things, yet in some (not all) they been in the forefront of these things.

So while we are in agreement this is scary, I only want to know why has it taken you this long to notice the problem?