tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post116252623685051355..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: Assigning BlameAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1162576351162645292006-11-03T10:52:00.000-07:002006-11-03T10:52:00.000-07:00One nitpick: you characterize "shouting 'Death to ...One nitpick: you characterize "shouting 'Death to the infidels'" as an act of "private violence". Shouting is not an act of violence. Depending on the audience, it may be a threat of violence, an exhortation to others to commit a violent act or even both at once, but it is not itself an act of violence. In Jefferson's words, it neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.<BR/><BR/>Just as Limbaugh's right to free speech does not protect him from criticism from you and me, the Danish cartoonists' right to free speech does not protect them from criticism from Muslims or anyone else who takes offense at the viewpoint embodied in those cartoons.<BR/><BR/>"Should the right to free speech extend to threats?" is a difficult question - not least because of the issue of who decides what is and is not a threat, and based on what standards - but exploration of this question is not well served by blurring the line between speech and action. The US constitution defines treason exclusively in terms of an "overt Act", partly to avoid creating a category of "wrong speech" that can then become nebulous and used to intimidate any speech that is unwelcome to those in power.<BR/><BR/>It is important to maintain the distinction between speech - the expression of a viewpoint - and violent action, which results in actual injury.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1162565756780929332006-11-03T07:55:00.000-07:002006-11-03T07:55:00.000-07:00Oooops. That was me. I realize it wasn't a constr...Oooops. That was me. <BR/><BR/>I realize it wasn't a constructive comment, but I find it difficult to even attempt a constructive criticism of someone like Rash Limpballs and Ann Cooties.<BR/><BR/>They have absolutely no intention of "playing fair", as doing so would deprive them of the multi-million dollar businesses they have constructed around themselves by being professional ar*eholes.<BR/><BR/>The distubing thing is that both of these people must be saying things that a large % of the american public want to hear. This is a realization that I find most disturbing, and frankly, I just can't comprehend it.<BR/><BR/>As you can see, I failed once again to be even remotely polite in my assessment of them and I was only minimally constructive in my criticism of them.beepbeepitsmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12931640447011071849noreply@blogger.com