Quote:
Originally posted by Ustwo
You have the right of free speech. You have no right to be heard. If you want to hear the protestors go hear them, if you want to hear the president, go hear him.
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onetime2,
You read me correctly, I was distinguishing between individuals and government entities.
People do have the right to be heard by the government--that's the point of having free speech. Free speech without a commensurate right to be heard by our government (who's sole responsibility is to respond to the needs and demands of its population) would be a pretty silly right to possess.
Individuals, on the other hand, do not have an obligation to address the demands and needs of other citizens--they possess their own rights to conduct their own affairs wihout molestation.
This is why I draw a distinction between the two. I see the Bill of Rights as a contract between the people and a new form of government they were creating--not a document governing relations between citizens. That should be left to the local government agencies, which are closer to their constituents and better able to represent individual needs and demands.
BTW, I feel the protestors have a right to be heard by the President. He has an obligation to hear their appeal.