In Re: Question about Me Buring a Flag in NYC next week on Thu, 10 Nov 2005 07:19:00 -0800, by Theodore A. Kaldis, we read: The 1st A. "free speech" clause exists as a metaphor for all forms of behavior. Speech refers to communication of any sort which immediately defines a form of behavior, for speech is an action, a behavior. Perhaps, but you still have the right. "Fighting words" is a legalism. It expresses the need in advocacy law to to quibble, to determine a degree of culpability in buttault cases. Where juries used to determine guilt and punishment, codification of law to acjieve a statute, attempted to quantify through subjective language. "Fighting words" is not relevant in determining the definition of a right. Do you have a right to burn a book, any book, of your choice? Of course you do. Why? Because it is the right of any individual to behave or act in any manner that does not conflict with the rights of others, or to obligate them. If you can do it in private and damage no one, you have the right to do it in public. That government takes exception to the exercise of some rights does not diminish the fact that rights are rights. Government however, which is obligated to protect individual rights, makes a political decision as to which rights to protect. Nudity in public is an example. You have that right. It does not prevent others from expressing their rights nor does it obligate anyone, but every state in the union upholds punishing nudity in public. The fact is that law enforcement and the courts routinely trample on individual rights. Yes, you have the right to burn a flag, any flag. Will government leave you alone? ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----
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