I don't understand why it's ok to be an asshole in the name of freedom of speech.

[Drunken Irishman]

This is the canned response you get when you point out these people are acting in a mob-like mentality.

It's freedom of speech.

That's fine. Great. God Bless America!

But what the fuck?

Since when did freedom of speech allow you to walk in and shout down others?

This isn't freedom of speech. If anything, it's a coordinated event to remove an entire group from speaking their mind.

Because when you shout down others, yell and scream and create panic, that's exactly what happens. They're not there to voice their concerns. They're there to disrupt and that has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

So why doesn't someone call them on this crap?

:banghead:

[bbinacan]

1. Well said.

Sadly, we see this behavior from both sides. It needs to stop now.

[Faygo Kid]

2. Exactly. Mind-numbed robots have been conditioned for 20 years by Rush.

Here is how they "think," thanks to Rush and his minions: If anybody disagrees with you, it means they are evil or stupid, or more likely both. Therefore, you don't have to treat them with even the most basic forms of decency. You are entitled to shout them down, or otherwise intimidate them as you see fit.

No wonder they love Rush, Palin and Beck. Their lives are easy. They do not as they are told, but as they are conditioned to do by their puppetmaster. Who is in turn doing the bidding of the extremely rich and powerful. Never has the term "useful idiots" been more accurate.

But they sure obey, don't they? They are threatening us, and I don't get intimidated easily. But it seems to be working. And of course, we have seen this before.

[Lord Helmet]

3. suppressing somebody else's free speech in the name of free speech is bs

that's exactly what the RW is trying to do in the town halls

k 'n r

[opihimoimoi]

4. Brwn Shirt Rationalzation Card...Its Intimidation...one of the BULLY TRAITS

Besides

Lying

Cheating

Stealing

Distorting

Distracting

Dominating

Targeting

Disparaging

Cronyistic

many others

[Uzybone]

10. +1

[PVnRT]

17. +1 (n/t)

[dkf]

5. They have a right to act like thugs as long as they don't get physical and we have the right

to point out to everyone that they fear the public understanding what is really going on so they feel a need to shout us down.

[depakid]

6. To that I would also add that "freedom" of speech- much like other "freedoms"

in America is hollow and ofter dysfunctional- due to the inability to agree a basic core of facts, I.e. what demonstrably- even obviously true and accurate- and what's demonstrably false and contrived.

Without some mechanism to ensure that facts are out there- and on the record to argue from, arguments become meaningless displays of playground behavior.

[C_U_L8R]

7. Everyone is free to make an idiot of themselves

it's kind of an early warning system for the rest of us : - )))

[undergroundpanther]

8. it is an ABUSE of freedom of speech

in order to control others freedom of speech, it's an attempt to get or keep POWER to themselves by controlling whom hears what information,that is one way to create power,to continue to ABUSE power via abusing others and denying them a say. Limiting the access to information is a tactic of cults and bullies who do it are no better than some crazy cult leader censoring the types of information the 'flock' can read..

[Orsino]

9. Conspiring to prevent others from meeting with their elected representatives?

Why is such thuggishness protected at all?

[Nyquil Man]

11. My freedoms end when they infringe on yours.

If I stand up in a meeting and spend the entire time yelling, never giving anyone else the chance to speak, I have enlarged my right to speak at the expense of everyone else's.

I am exercising my freedom of speech. At the same time, I'm taking away yours.

[MadMaddie]

12. Depends on what kind of asshole is disruptive doesn't it?

If it were let's say Code Pink, they would be roughed up and thrown in jail.

How about black assholes that would be disruptive? they would have their asses kicked and thrown in jail. (Even just for thinking about being disruptive)

But if the asshole is a "Christian, reich wing extremist", bussed in from who knows where and intentionally disrupts an orderly meeting.....well this type of asshole apparantly walks on water.

What? It's the truth....and everyone knows it.

The fucking MSM treats this disrupters as if they are expressing their fundamental rights but what they are doing is disturbing the peace....remember that phrase from not too long ago?

I would put the sarcasm smilie in this but I am not being sarcastic.....

[smalll]

13. Tell that to Medea Benjamin and Cindy Sheehan.

Just sayin' :shrug:

[Cha]

14. Who get hauled out.

I'm just sayin'.

[smalll]

16. Good point there actually. Touche!

:patriot:

[smalll]

15. (self-delete)