Author Topic: Freedom from fear? (Read 269 times)

StSanta · « **on:** December 11, 2002, 09:15:43 AM »

Heh, the Supreme Court will make a judgement on whether burning crosses KKK style comes under the freedom of expression or not. One of the lawyers that are saying it isn't protected by the freedom of speech bit in the constitution said the following:

"This case involved two important freedoms -- freedom of speech and freedom from fear," Kilgore said. "Our statute preserves the first and secures the second""

Now, as far as I can read the constitution, I cannot see anything that suggests 'freedom from fear'. This is overly broad and could be interpreted as 'ban everything that someone finds scary'.

Is there such a clause in the US constitution?

john9001 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2002, 09:33:03 AM »

ban halloween, i get scared when i see monsters

Rude · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2002, 09:38:24 AM »

You shouldn't pay attention to attorneys and their opinions.

AKIron · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2002, 09:38:47 AM »

The US Constitution does not guarantee freedom from fear. I believe that its writers intended freedom from fear though. They did this by being specific about what they thought was necessary to ensure individual liberty.

Imagine if they had been so vague as to guarantee "freedom from fear", there'd be no guns, no planes, no sex, no motor cars, not a single luxury.

There are laws against speech that incites rioting. This is one of those after the fact things I think. This law should only be exercised punitively and not as a preventative, IMO.

OIO · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2002, 10:13:44 AM »

I prefer a more creative approach.

When they burn a cross or something, why not burn a life size replica of a moron in bedsheets?

Thatd be awesome.

The Gu-Gu-cluck clan