Monday, June 27, 2005
The Right to Offend...CB's Appreciate This Right
The Right to Offend: "The other effect would be to water down one of the most profound principles that the Constitution articulates: that Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech. The great power of this principle is that it admits no exception: not for the most odious racism or Holocaust denial, not for the most insulting criticisms of those in high office, not for cone-shaped white hoods or hammers and sickles, and not for burning or otherwise defiling the Stars and Stripes."
The fact that we are even having this discussion in a time of war, etc. gives me ever decreasing faith in Washington. Does this really constitute a priority? Does the 114 incidents (give or take) in the past five or ten years really rise to the level of a Constitutional Amendment? Hasn't this expression served as a way for viewers of these idiots to see them as pure idiots? For me, I know when I see someone burn the flag that what they have to say no longer interests me. The free market of ideas renders flag-burners useless. Most Americans see them burn the flag and tune out any ideas they may have been trying to broadcast. It offends us, but it is covered by our Constitution. It should be. Any change in the Constitution should rise to a much higher level. We should be letting Washington know that we do not share their priorities!
The fact that we are even having this discussion in a time of war, etc. gives me ever decreasing faith in Washington. Does this really constitute a priority? Does the 114 incidents (give or take) in the past five or ten years really rise to the level of a Constitutional Amendment? Hasn't this expression served as a way for viewers of these idiots to see them as pure idiots? For me, I know when I see someone burn the flag that what they have to say no longer interests me. The free market of ideas renders flag-burners useless. Most Americans see them burn the flag and tune out any ideas they may have been trying to broadcast. It offends us, but it is covered by our Constitution. It should be. Any change in the Constitution should rise to a much higher level. We should be letting Washington know that we do not share their priorities!
