Comment by dashundchen
9 years ago
No, it's not nonsense. The line has been drawn on once and many times after, by the Supreme court.
When your speech impinges on the safety or rights of another citizen, you are not covered by free speech.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenck_v._United_States
Free speech is not carte blanche to invite violence or call for a genocide. Please watch the recent vice documentary to hear what and how the Charlottesville white supremacists prepared for. It's truly vile and genocidal.
If you want to see a society who has been much more firm holding against racist nonsense, see Germany who has legislated against Nazi symbols and propoganda. Do you see why allowing indimidation and hateful violence run rampant is a bad idea?
What you're saying is true - freedom of speech is not absolute, and there are well recognized, narrow exceptions to the First Amendment.
That said, Schenck is an awful example of them, considering:
- it does not advance your argument at all - Schenck was an anti-war protester who was trying to distribute flyers. Where's the "impinging on safety or rights of another citizen" there?
- it has been rejected and abandoned as a doctrine, most notably via Brandenburg vs Ohio.
(See https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/its-tim...)
> Please watch the recent vice documentary
Why in the world would you expect this to give you anything resembling an unbiased or well-informed view? Go on twitter, 8chan, and liveleak; all the raw footage and discussion is there.
Direct quotes from a Charolettesville neo-nazi organizer:
--
“I’m here to spread ideas, talk,” Cantwell says, “in hopes that somebody more capable will come along and do that, somebody like Donald Trump who does not give his daughter to a Jew.”
“So, Donald Trump, but like, more racist?” VICE’s reporter questions. “A lot more racist than Donald Trump,” Cantwell responds. “I don’t think that you could feel about race the way I do and watch that Kushner bastard walk around with that beautiful girl, okay?”
Video from Saturday’s protests show Black Lives Matter and anti-facist protestors with backpacks and signs. The white supremacists facing off against them pack helmets, shields and blunt weapons. After authorities force the crowd to disperse by police and declare a state of emergency, Cantwell says, “We’re here obeying the law,” he continues, “and the criminals are over there getting their way.”
“So you’re the true nonviolent protestors?” the reporter asks.
“We’re not nonviolent, we’ll fuckin’ kill people if we have to.” Soon, Cantwell’s pledge becomes chilling and devastatingly prescient.