A beautiful thing, freedom of speech.
But it's also a very dangerous thing. If you are free to say anything to you want, you are also allowed to cause pain and suffering to massive groups of people.
I take the Westboro Church as an example, because of their hurtful messages. Protesting against homosexuals at funerals, against soldiers (apparently also homosexual in their book) at their memorials, against people in general really. They are using the freedom of speech, but not for the reason freedom of speech is meant.
So we gotta discuss about the following: is there a limit to freedom of speech, and if so, what would that be?
In my opinion, when you use the freedom of speech, you need to be aware of what hurt you cause to others. You should not be allowed to emotionally rip people apart and enjoying while doing so. Look, when you accidently hurt someone, that's considered a mistake and to be forgiven. But when you KNOW you hurt someone (hurt is not the correct word here. They're wrecking these people...) you shouldn't be allowed to continue this.
In most countries, including Australia and most European countries, the Phelps would not be allowed to say these things at funerals. Reason is because of its past. The aboriginals in Australia being discriminated for so long, and the Jews, homosexuals, dark-skinned and gypsies in Europe. Those countries have a past not so long ago and do not allow these people to be hurt again.
Ironically enough, America had a similar past with dark-skinned people, but apparently freedom of speech knows no limits there. Well, calling someone the N-word is not allowed, so apparently there IS, but why are the Westboros for example still accepted to do what they do?!
Discuss.
But it's also a very dangerous thing. If you are free to say anything to you want, you are also allowed to cause pain and suffering to massive groups of people.
I take the Westboro Church as an example, because of their hurtful messages. Protesting against homosexuals at funerals, against soldiers (apparently also homosexual in their book) at their memorials, against people in general really. They are using the freedom of speech, but not for the reason freedom of speech is meant.
So we gotta discuss about the following: is there a limit to freedom of speech, and if so, what would that be?
In my opinion, when you use the freedom of speech, you need to be aware of what hurt you cause to others. You should not be allowed to emotionally rip people apart and enjoying while doing so. Look, when you accidently hurt someone, that's considered a mistake and to be forgiven. But when you KNOW you hurt someone (hurt is not the correct word here. They're wrecking these people...) you shouldn't be allowed to continue this.
In most countries, including Australia and most European countries, the Phelps would not be allowed to say these things at funerals. Reason is because of its past. The aboriginals in Australia being discriminated for so long, and the Jews, homosexuals, dark-skinned and gypsies in Europe. Those countries have a past not so long ago and do not allow these people to be hurt again.
Ironically enough, America had a similar past with dark-skinned people, but apparently freedom of speech knows no limits there. Well, calling someone the N-word is not allowed, so apparently there IS, but why are the Westboros for example still accepted to do what they do?!
Discuss.