That aside, we're all reminded this week about how freedom of speech has a long way to go in the world before it is as accepted as it is in the US (even under it's current "loose lips help terrorists" mentality). First, some radical Muslims stir up a shitstorm by making a big deal of out a Mohammed cartoon that was published back in September. Then, a bunch of crazy Muslims (clearly not the sane Muslims) burn down embassies. I think I've counted nine or ten deaths connected with the protests.
The other day on Democracy Now they ran a clip of a protestor saying something to the effect of "Freedom of speech does not include insults."
This made me very mad because the concept of the freedom of speech was created to protect insults and other hatespeech.
Personally, I think any kind of hatecrime laws are unConstitutional as they make a crime out of your thoughts instead of simply one's actions. Naturally, I think it's absurd to say just because you have freedom of speech doesn't mean you don't have to be respectful.
Here's my idea of freedom of speech:
FUCK OFF AND DIE.
I'm sorry, have I offended you?
GOOD, YA FUCK FACE!!
Jesus F (for Fucking) Christ!
Of course, it's not just freaked out extremist Muslims who are mad for censorship, it's now the Germans. According to [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006060530,00.html|an article] at http://TheSun.co.uk German police will arrest anyone making overt Nazi jokes during the first round of the soccer World Cup is played in Nuremburg in June, 2006. Here's a quote:
GERMAN cops will use sweeping powers to collar England fans doing Basil Fawlty-style Hitler impressions at the World Cup.
Yobs will be instantly banged up for TWO WEEKS if they goose-step like John Cleese in his most famous Fawlty Towers scene.
And hard core louts who give Nazi salutes — like the one jokingly made by Michael Barrymore in Celebrity Big Brother — could be hauled before a judge within 24 hours.
If convicted of inciting hatred they will face jail terms of up to THREE YEARS.
Wearing joke German helmets or any offensive insignia will also result in a stretch behind bars.
The crackdown was revealed by police in Nuremberg, where England will play Trinidad and Tobago in a first-round World Cup match on June 15.
The city is particularly sensitive to World War II jibes.
Its gleaming World Cup stadium stands in the shadow of the parade ground used for Hitler’s notorious Nazi rallies in the 1930s.
...
The city was carpet-bombed by the Allies during the war.
Cops there say Nazi taunts are NOT funny and will NOT be tolerated.
Police chief Gerhard Hauptmannl, a 59-year-old former judge and Mafia crimebuster, said yesterday:
“We will come down hard on people who use insulting behaviour or make trouble.
We are very sensitive about our history.
England football fans should be aware that the Nazi salute and provocative behaviour like goose-stepping in public will be punished. We will offer the warmest welcome to true football fans. But anyone glorifying extremism here risks arrest.
We are prepared to use our police powers to hold fans for up to two weeks without charge if we feel they are a threat to public safety and order.
This used to be the city of the Nazi rallies but is now famous as the city of human rights. We do not live in the past.â€
Around 10,000 England fans will have tickets for the match at the refurbished 44,000-seat Franken Stadium on the outskirts of the rebuilt Bavarian city.
But a similar number of Three Lions followers are expected to travel without tickets — including our nation’s notorious hooligan element.
The city’s police are beefing up CCTV surveillance with a £1.1million space-age computerised control centre.
All I can say is:
GOD (of your choice, or none at all) BLESS AMERICA!
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