> This is a reminder that even First World nations don't always live up to US standards with respect to freedom of speech.
That made me cringe. A lot. My first-world western country doesn't live up to your "standards" of freedom of speech because we have different standards. We value speech differently.
No, there are countries that do not agree with the moral evaluation of freedom of speech that the US constitution and the Supreme Court made and make.
There is nothing to live up to. It’s not an issue of progress, it’s on issue of a different moral worldview.
Americans taking freedom of speech on top of everything else as axiomatic are ridiculous and arrogant. I think freedom of speech is important and I do think what happens in the UK is overreach, but I personally prefer putting human dignity above freedom of speech.
> This is a reminder that even First World nations don't always live up to US standards with respect to freedom of speech.
Seems Bradley Manning was as naive as you. You are of course joking right? I'd like to draw your attention to this if you think that freedom of speech in the USA is any better than anywhere else.
Can you imagine if there was a comment like this in response to every article about how terrible the United States is in terms of Human Rights Issues saying 'We have to remember that the United States doesn't really live up to First World Standards with respect to [list omitted for brevity]'
Firstly good to see that while the UK was asleep the first amendement was busy at work.
The UK regardless of what is being stated here has excellent standards of free speech. I can protest government policies (see student protests of 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15646709), I can write what I want and talk about what I want with some clear rules for example:
- Defamation (Publicly making statements about another individual which are false and derogatory)
- Official Secrets Act (Revealing information covered by the act. Everyone is bound by regardless if you signed a copy or not)
- Make threats direct at individuals or places
We also have a ton of rules to protect rape victims, on-going prosecutions and children.
The twitter / facebook cases are already causing serious issues for prosecutors here and the Crown Prosecution Service is already writing guidance to limit the number of prosecutions.
The UK just like the US has a good legal system in place with separate police, prosecution service and judiciary (non of which are elected!) in the Robin Hood Airport case the high court ruled it was a bad prosecution and this will stand as case law for the future.
If you have not seen what's been going on in the UK in regards to a wholesale bbq'ing of the press, police and government by the Leveson Inquiry and the three on-going related police investigations take a look. It is a good example of a working democracy cleaning house.
Free speech means sometimes you get offended by me saying X politician is stupid but it should not be used as an excuse for threatening, bigoted or racist behaviour.
At least in this case, a former Supreme Court judge thinks the arrests not only violate constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech, but are "criminal" to boot ... and he's not arrested for posting his criticism on his blog.
Let's not forget that the first amendment isn't as absolute as some of these comments would suggest. Courts have placed limits on it. Also try threatening the life of your president, see how that works out for you!
[+] [-] csense|13 years ago|reply
I think I've heard that video games that feature Nazis -- even if they're strictly enemies -- can't be sold in France and Germany.
It really makes you appreciate how powerful the US Constitution is. Maybe the Tea Party was on to something...
[+] [-] tomflack|13 years ago|reply
That made me cringe. A lot. My first-world western country doesn't live up to your "standards" of freedom of speech because we have different standards. We value speech differently.
[+] [-] arrrg|13 years ago|reply
There is nothing to live up to. It’s not an issue of progress, it’s on issue of a different moral worldview.
Americans taking freedom of speech on top of everything else as axiomatic are ridiculous and arrogant. I think freedom of speech is important and I do think what happens in the UK is overreach, but I personally prefer putting human dignity above freedom of speech.
[+] [-] chunkyslink|13 years ago|reply
Seems Bradley Manning was as naive as you. You are of course joking right? I'd like to draw your attention to this if you think that freedom of speech in the USA is any better than anywhere else.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/oct/...
[+] [-] glomph|13 years ago|reply
http://www.hrw.org/united-states/ https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/usa/report-2012
[+] [-] tommi|13 years ago|reply
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp
There is still lot to improve in most of the countries.
[+] [-] kevinprince|13 years ago|reply
In Germany it is ilegal to display the Swastika and deny that the holocaust happened.
Call of Duty sold very well in Germany, the enemies just didnt have Swastika's on and had green blood.
[+] [-] kevinprince|13 years ago|reply
The UK regardless of what is being stated here has excellent standards of free speech. I can protest government policies (see student protests of 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15646709), I can write what I want and talk about what I want with some clear rules for example:
- Defamation (Publicly making statements about another individual which are false and derogatory)
- Official Secrets Act (Revealing information covered by the act. Everyone is bound by regardless if you signed a copy or not)
- Make threats direct at individuals or places
We also have a ton of rules to protect rape victims, on-going prosecutions and children.
The twitter / facebook cases are already causing serious issues for prosecutors here and the Crown Prosecution Service is already writing guidance to limit the number of prosecutions.
The UK just like the US has a good legal system in place with separate police, prosecution service and judiciary (non of which are elected!) in the Robin Hood Airport case the high court ruled it was a bad prosecution and this will stand as case law for the future.
If you have not seen what's been going on in the UK in regards to a wholesale bbq'ing of the press, police and government by the Leveson Inquiry and the three on-going related police investigations take a look. It is a good example of a working democracy cleaning house.
Free speech means sometimes you get offended by me saying X politician is stupid but it should not be used as an excuse for threatening, bigoted or racist behaviour.
[+] [-] shadyabhi|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aufreak3|13 years ago|reply
http://justicekatju.blogspot.in/2012/11/a-letter-to-maharash...
[+] [-] darwinGod|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cmsj|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] namank|13 years ago|reply