Blasphemy Rights Day.

abuayisha wrote: Well certainly we as a society can and should have honest and rational discourse, but I would argue that blasphemy and other such vile speech shouldn't be ignored. Indeed it does hurt people. And indeed rhetoric has consequences.

When some Muslims claim that the Quran predicted all modern science or Islam is a superior religion or the Bible is corrupted or infidels will burn in hell, this does hurt my feelings. I get angry when to read such stuff. So what? My feelings and my anger are my problem. Everyone has the right to write nonsense like the splitting of the moon really happened. I have to live with that. And I do.

Ron we can play semantical games all day, but I place no moral equivalency upon those who speak irresponsibly and those who violently act irresponsible. Of course the latter is deserving of our repudiation. Indeed it is sad that we are having to take sides when both are bad.

Well certainly we as a society can and should have honest and rational discourse, but I would argue that blasphemy and other such vile speech shouldn't be ignored. Indeed it does hurt people. And indeed rhetoric has consequences.   

To begin with, there are absolutely exceptions to free speech � legal exceptions, in fact which include: child pornography, incitement, sexual obscenity without literary, artistic, political or scientific value and �fighting words and offensive speech.� And no, this is not a �slippery slope;� these are rules that have always been here and should always stay here, for good reason.

Part of Cates� confusion, I imagine, boils down to her understanding of why free speech exists. No, it�s not for people �to express themselves.� In the Supreme Court case Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire the Court ruled against Chaplinsky�s freedom to profanity and offensive speech.

�It has been well observed,� wrote Justice Frank Murphy, �that such utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality.�

http://emorywheel.com/free-speech-some-exceptions/