Pushing the envelope on free speech (my title)

REUTERS ^ | April 17, 2002 | Peter Morgan

[Little Bill]

You're going to get flamed Brother. I remember some street art that you proposed with the 'stine flag.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

that is, pretty --- funny.

[blau993]

What do you think the charge will be?

Giving head on a public thoroughfare?

[sixmil]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Am I wrong to feel that the 1st amendment does NOT protect the rights of the people to freely express themselves? I do NOT see where freedom of expression is a right. No federal laws respecting religion or prohibiting the exercise of religion; no abridging the freedom of speech or the press; the right to "peaceably" assemble (not to torch cities) and to petition the government. Where did "freedom of expression" come into all this? Sure, if you do the lib thing and shred it, anylize it, rewrite it, and spit it out--you might find it. Of course, you'd also find that the government can strictly regulate the owning of firearms.

To anyone looking to freely express themselves by burning my flag: I WILL freely express my foot up your A$$. I digress--this guy's a whack-job and needs to be convicted of a "hate crime"

I agree that the Bill of Rights does not say anything about 'freedom of expression', but I hear people chant that phrase as often as they chant "separation of church and state". It has become an implied right that probably should be reviewed by the Supreme Court if it has not already. I think hate crime is a distinction without a difference, so I can't agree with you there. The question should be, is it illegal to symbolically threaten someone's life? I don't know the answer, and I am obviously biased in this case. But, I think we do need to draw a line between thought and deed. I would hate to be on the receiving end of a simulated death threat, but I think you really have to wait until something more serious comes along before you can call this a crime beyond littering, blocking traffic, or careless use of an axe in public.

[ElectricStrawberry]

However, I'm not stupid enough to flame a 'stine flag in the presence of those terrorists. I'd expect them to draw and quarter me, no matter how much the thought pleases my inner-self. I think I'm gonna start taking off my shoe and waving it at them.

[freeeee]

this guy's a whack-job and needs to be convicted of a "hate crime"

'Conservatives' like thoughtcrime hate crime laws???

[ElectricStrawberry]

It's called the use of sarcasm. It would be ironic if this artsy-fartsy lib got bit by the law THEY love.

[weikel]

Nope.