final_identity

The difference is, unfortunately, splitting legal hairs. The premise of the civil liberty, and the amendment which enshrines it, is not to squelch debate; but the Republican party has recognized (quite accurately) that squelching debate gains them power. Hence, the current tactics. Obvious correlation ...

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The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. Friedrich Nietzsche

raeanna74

The man who was arrested had the right to say what he wanted. I find it irresponsible and his choice of words reprehensible. The language that he was insinuating with his sign was vulgar. I realize TV and movies use it frequently but I don't want my daughter using that kind of language and I do not either as an example to her. If someone was holding up a sign such as that, I might as him to change it if possible. I would hope that he could change it to express the same sentiments without using base language. Out of courtesy for others and my desire for the freedom to attend a peaceful assembly without having to tolerate barroom language. I hope he can learn to express his views more eloquently and perhaps make more a of difference.

Personally if I saw a sign using vulgar language directed at me I would shrug it off as simply mildless anger. Something more well though out would make more of an impact on me.

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"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

tritium

It's legal. Tell the cops to shove this Supreme Court case of their collective asses and then keep displaying the sign.

Cohen v. California

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rat

Simply put any person, who in the execution of their First Amendment rights, participates in any form of verbal or written political discourse (outside of threatening the life of anyone) has been afforded the highest degree of protection from our federal judicial system. This man was holding a political poster, regardless of its contents, was NOT harming anybody, and refrained from even obscenity with it.

Regarding "Congress shall make no law...", that clause also applies to any state or locality due to another fun clause in the United States Constitution called the Supremacy Clause. Outside of several high profile Supreme Court cases that deal with the general welfare, fighting words, and hate speech, the states, parishes, counties, cities and towns do NOT have the right to abridge our First Amendment rights. The man has clearly had his right to assemble peaceably and freedom of speech violated in this instance. If Congress can not pass a law abridging these, and via the supremacy clause states and localities cannot, then the police arresting him have violated the most fundamental politic rights that man possesses. If it's not constitutional to legally abridge those rights, then it is not legal to forcibly abridge them. Not really that large of mental leap, I promise.

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gdr2004

Doesn't the issue have to do more with profanity than the content? I can't expect to march around with a sign that says "F*** nazis" without expecting trouble. I'm sure that he wasn't the only one who had an anti-bush poster, just one with profane content.

tritium

gdr, you can write or display whatever the "fuck" you want. Read Cohen v. California.

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gdr2004

Explains why I'm still a rookie :-p THanks for the info, tritium :-)

CrimsonApe

This type of display is absolutely ridiculous and shows once again how Bush's policies have reversed american freedoms.

Last time I checked there wasn't any clauses to the freedom of speech stating it was invalid under certain circumstances. Things like this have to be followed by an immediate public outcry. One of the first steps in establishing a dictatorship or fascist regime is the removal of free speech.

But I'm from Canada so all I can do is hope that you American's make the best choice come elections :

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