Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!convex!killer!vector!rpp386!jfh From: jfh@rpp386.Dallas.TX.US (The Beach Bum) Newsgroups: news.misc Subject: Freedom of Speech (was: Re: RACIST JOKES) Summary: Mostly misconceptions about free speech. Message-ID: <8790@rpp386.Dallas.TX.US> Date: 23 Nov 88 23:23:26 GMT References: <8030@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> <1058@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu> <1223@fig.bbn.com> <179@loci.UUCP> Reply-To: jfh@rpp386.Dallas.TX.US (The Beach Bum) Organization: Big "D" Home for Wayward Hackers Lines: 35 In article <179@loci.UUCP> clb@loci.UUCP (Charles Brunow) writes: >In article <1223@fig.bbn.com>, rsalz@bbn.com (Rich Salz) writes: >> From: nmg@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu (Nancy M Gould) >> >If enough people from ANY ETHNIC GROUP feel offended, the jokes >> >should not be posted. >> And if the person doesn't stop, then the majority should force them? >> Sorry, you're wrong. Read the First Amendment of the US Constitution. > > This is an example of "loop-hole opportunism", a point of view > that says "if it's legal it must be ethical". The intent of the > Bill of Rights is to provide protection, not to be used as an > instrument of abuse of others. No, this [ from Nancy on down ... ] is an example of continued wrong thinking. The First Amendment does not permit one to say whatever they so desire. Laws exist restricting ``offensive'' language in public forums. The most obvious example being The Seven Deadly Words, as George Carlin refers to them. Similiarly, obscene or sexually explicit language has repeatedly been denied protection by the courts. There is no reason to expect material which is inciteful to be protected. However, we can only hope that this entire line of arguing does not apply. And indeed, private networks such as Home Box Office are permitted to produce and transmit information which would be restricted in an open public forum. How else would I have seen George Carlin do The Seven Deadly Words if private networks were restricted? -- John F. Haugh II +----------Quote of the Week:---------- VoiceNet: (214) 250-3311 Data: -6272 | "Okay, so maybe Berkeley is in north- InterNet: jfh@rpp386.Dallas.TX.US | ern California." -- Henry Spencer UucpNet : !killer!rpp386!jfh +--------------------------------------