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They’re asking private individuals to support a change in behavior. What in the world does that have to do with the First Amendment?

THANK YOU, Tax Chick!

This has nothing to do with law. It is an exhortation by private citizens to other citizens asking them to support a change in behavior that they believe would be beneficial to society.

When my son is old enough, I'll want to take him to a ball game. Once there, he's going to have to hear how coarse our society has become in terms of its use of language. He's going to hear so-and-so "s#cks" and F-this and F-that. People are using such filthy language at sporting events these days, seemingly unconcerned that there are children about.

If I, as a private citizen, were to circulate a petition asking that people reconsider their use in public of certain words, would that not be a reasonable use of my rights and God-given American freedom? Isn't it, in a way, completely CONSONANT with the spirit of conservatism? After all, I am not asking my government to do anything, I am an individual taking personal action, exhorting my fellow Americans to choose to make a change on their own, with no government coercion. Asking people, without government involvement, to make certain changes because we believe those changes would be better---be they considering attending church, avoiding drugs, considering marriage as opposed to co-habitation, etc.---that is the heart of conservatism.

If I, as a private citizen, were to circulate a petition asking that people reconsider their use in public of certain words, would that not be a reasonable use of my rights and God-given American freedom? Isn't it, in a way, completely CONSONANT with the spirit of conservatism?

Yes, you're right it is. What you need to understand though is using this tactic in today's PC world inwhich any WORD can be deemed offensive, needs to be made perfecty clear. Liberal society is trying it's very best to change the original meaning of words to fit their agenda. I'm pointing out, eventhough we can agree a word is offensive and we want to consider whether or not it's appropriate to use in public has NOTHING to do with whether or not we have the right too use it.

If I was to walk down the street to the center of Harlem and say the "N" word I should expect to be protected from being assulted by the public and government sectors. Yes, It would be extremely offensive, but we need to be clear the constitution affords me the right to use the word anywhere!

I think it's vitally important to really understand this distinction in today's world, especially those children who seemingly have no clue about what free speech is really all about!

I agree with your points, connell. However, I think that some of the comments here demonstrate that many people believe they have the “right” to engage in uncivil speech, but that nobody else has the “right” to ask them to use better manners.

This leaves us with situations such as you face at a ball game, where if you politely asked the people cursing to stop, all you’d get is more profanity and possibly a physical assault.