Should there be a limit to free speech? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

KEVWYO · 05-28-2008, 12:44 AM

So if you go to Afghanistan or Pakistan and mention anything about Christians you'll likely get your head cutoff. Yet the guy in this article is going to be let free despite his ongoing extremist hate filled diatribes against the West ... despite the fact he lives in London.

At some point extremist speeches need to be tantamount to yelling fire in a movie theater.

Snip:

"Abu Qatada has been convicted in Jordan, indicted in Spain, arrested in Britain and accused of being Al Qaeda's top ideologue in Europe.

Western investigators call him the godfather of "Londonistan," a nickname for the multiethnic extremist community that flourished here in the late 1990s. The cleric's sermons allegedly influenced Abu Musab Zarqawi, who led Al Qaeda in Iraq until his death in 2006; the train bombers who hit Madrid in 2004; and the hijackers who struck the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

Release of radical cleric Abu Qatada puts Britain in a spot

He has been detained for years as investigators struggle to prove his activities merit prosecution. An immigration panel ordered him freed after an effort to deport him to Jordan was blocked.
By Sebastian Rotella, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 27, 2008

Release of radical cleric Abu Qatada puts Britain in a spot - Los Angeles Times

**Frenchy** · 05-28-2008, 03:16 AM

The Brits will rue the day, I fear.

Bree · 05-28-2008, 03:27 AM

Free speech is like the freedom to keep and bear arms... the more, the better.

KEVWYO · 05-28-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bree

Free speech is like the freedom to keep and bear arms... the more, the better.

In general I agree but did you read the link? It boggles my mind that just my very presence in Pakistan or Afghansistan could get me killed but Britain is at a loss on how to deal with a guy who incites radical hate of the very country he resides in. Granted it is a difficult issue to work around but at some point a guy like that needs to either be deported or just mysteriously become "missing".

Bree · 05-28-2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEVWYO

In general I agree but did you read the link? It boggles my mind that just my very presence in Pakistan or Afghansistan could get me killed but Britain is at a loss on how to deal with a guy who incites radical hate of the very country he resides in. Granted it is a difficult issue to work around but at some point a guy like that needs to either be deported or just mysteriously become "missing".

I said the guy should be free to say what's on his mind. How the peeps respond and react is really up to them isn't it? Thye more extreme the speech the more extreme might be the reaction. Hope the police can provide good defensive services.

**DanTheEldest** · 05-28-2008, 05:47 PM

With the Canadians prosecuting people for "hate speech" just for expressing disagreement with homosexuality, I find it curious that their mother nation (easily as P.C. and leftist as our northern neighbors, if not moreso) apparently doesn't have any comparable legislation that could conceivably be used to bring a case against him for that. I'd think that the legal equivalent of "what's good for the goose..." could be employed, but maybe there are distinctions (or dare I say, nuances) here I'm missing due to not habitually thinking like a leftist.

afmo · 05-28-2008, 05:50 PM

I think limiting speech is a slippery slope. Who defines "Extremist?" Should people be held accountable for their words or for their actions? Very very very slippery slope IMO.

**DanTheEldest** · 05-28-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afmo

I think limiting speech is a slippery slope. Who defines "Extremist?" Should people be held accountable for their words or for their actions? Very very very slippery slope IMO.

I agree, but the Brits aren't covered by our Constitution, which makes me curious. I'm gonna go look for links as to what their rights to free speech, assembly, religion, etc. actually are.

**DanTheEldest** · 05-28-2008, 06:04 PM

Interesting. The Brits don't have a formal, codified constitution like we do, relying instead on an amalgamation of case law from the courts, laws passed in Parliament, and a handful of other sources to make up an "unwritten constitution". Kinda scary, actually; it's no wonder there have been so many laws passed restricting things like firearm ownership when your rights are basically whatever the government decides they are.

Constitution of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

one-eyed-fatman · 05-28-2008, 06:13 PM

I had no idea free speech was a world wide thing. Did the rest of the world steal our constitution while I wasn't looking?

05-28-2008, 12:44 AM	#1
KEVWYO XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,084	Should there be a limit to free speech? So if you go to Afghanistan or Pakistan and mention anything about Christians you'll likely get your head cutoff. Yet the guy in this article is going to be let free despite his ongoing extremist hate filled diatribes against the West ... despite the fact he lives in London. At some point extremist speeches need to be tantamount to yelling fire in a movie theater. Snip: "Abu Qatada has been convicted in Jordan, indicted in Spain, arrested in Britain and accused of being Al Qaeda's top ideologue in Europe. Western investigators call him the godfather of "Londonistan," a nickname for the multiethnic extremist community that flourished here in the late 1990s. The cleric's sermons allegedly influenced Abu Musab Zarqawi, who led Al Qaeda in Iraq until his death in 2006; the train bombers who hit Madrid in 2004; and the hijackers who struck the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Release of radical cleric Abu Qatada puts Britain in a spot He has been detained for years as investigators struggle to prove his activities merit prosecution. An immigration panel ordered him freed after an effort to deport him to Jordan was blocked. By Sebastian Rotella, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer May 27, 2008 Release of radical cleric Abu Qatada puts Britain in a spot - Los Angeles Times __________________ Noli nothis permittere te terere. This is the political section there is no room for truth, justice and anything that's fair and right. - (one eyed fatman)

05-28-2008, 03:16 AM	#2
Frenchy XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Mid-Missouri Posts: 12,890	The Brits will rue the day, I fear. __________________ ~SC Harvey~ 2008 Election..."Imbrace your ignorance, and vote your preference". It's quite simple, really... *If you vote for Obama, you are a fuking idiot. If you vote for McCain, you are a fuking idiot.* *If your vote is for the lessor of two evils, then you can be comforted knowing that you're less of a fuking idiot than the other guy! Because Fritz says so! RON PAUL IN 2008**

05-28-2008, 03:27 AM	#3
Bree XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,054 Blog Entries: 5	Free speech is like the freedom to keep and bear arms... the more, the better. __________________ Shoot Straight and Ride Safe! Bree XD .45 Compact -- Ruger SP-101 .357 Mag. -- Keltec P3AT .380 Rock River Arms 20" Varmint A4 AR-15 w/4-16x56mm MilDot Ruger 10/22 Black Stainless Mossberg 590 Mariner 12 Ga w/Knoxx SpecOps Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide Patriot Guard Rider Iron Butt Association Member The 60's Can't Die As Long As I Won't Leave Them!! I support McCain-Palin with CA$H!

05-28-2008, 05:47 PM	#6
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,292	With the Canadians prosecuting people for "hate speech" just for expressing disagreement with homosexuality, I find it curious that their mother nation (easily as P.C. and leftist as our northern neighbors, if not moreso) apparently doesn't have any comparable legislation that could conceivably be used to bring a case against him for that. I'd think that the legal equivalent of "what's good for the goose..." could be employed, but maybe there are distinctions (or dare I say, nuances) here I'm missing due to not habitually thinking like a leftist. __________________ The AK-47: Designed to be field-stripped and used effectively by a half-drunk, half-frozen illiterate conscript who found it buried in Mother Russia's mud after last year's Regiment exercises. SOP: retrieve from ground, pee in action, cycle bolt, go back to work. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. --Martin Luther

05-28-2008, 05:50 PM	#7
afmo XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,321	I think limiting speech is a slippery slope. Who defines "Extremist?" Should people be held accountable for their words or for their actions? Very very very slippery slope IMO. __________________ There are just two rules of governance in a free society: Mind your own business and keep your hands to yourself. - P.J. O'Rourke Guy Fawkes: The only person to enter parliament with honest intentions. Ruger 22/45 MKIII Springfield XD-9 Service Stevens Model 67 Series E 12g 1948 M44 Mosin-Nagant

05-28-2008, 06:04 PM	#9
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,292	Interesting. The Brits don't have a formal, codified constitution like we do, relying instead on an amalgamation of case law from the courts, laws passed in Parliament, and a handful of other sources to make up an "unwritten constitution". Kinda scary, actually; it's no wonder there have been so many laws passed restricting things like firearm ownership when your rights are basically whatever the government decides they are. Constitution of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia __________________ The AK-47: Designed to be field-stripped and used effectively by a half-drunk, half-frozen illiterate conscript who found it buried in Mother Russia's mud after last year's Regiment exercises. SOP: retrieve from ground, pee in action, cycle bolt, go back to work. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. --Martin Luther

05-28-2008, 06:13 PM	#10
one-eyed-fatman XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 10,000	I had no idea free speech was a world wide thing. Did the rest of the world steal our constitution while I wasn't looking? __________________ http://home.houston.rr.com/gunpics/images/one%20eye.wav

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode