View unanswered posts | View active topics It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:20 am



Reply to topic  [ 2 posts ] 
 Free Speech 

Should David Irving be in jail?
yes 50%  50%  [ 1 ]
no 50%  50%  [ 1 ]
Total votes : 2

 Free Speech 
Author Message
Semi-pro
Semi-pro
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:07 am
Posts: 24
Location: outer space
On Feb 20 David Irving, a historian and Holocaust denier, was sentanced to three years in prison in Austria for comments made during a speech in 1989. He claimed that there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz and that 74,000 Jews died of natural causes in the work camp and the rest were hidden, taken to Palastine and given new identities. He also claimed that Hitler had no knowledge of the "final solution". He has been banned from most European countries, Canada, and Australia, but was able to conduct a book and lecture tour in the US. Where do we draw the line at free speech? Is all speech free or should we draw a line to protect the rights of others?

_________________
Laurie Tate


Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:24 pm
Profile WWW
Semi-pro
Semi-pro
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:02 pm
Posts: 29
Post 
I voted yes, he should be in jail, because he violated the laws of the country he was in. For me, it's as simple as that.

However, I don't think those laws should be on the books. I view this the same way I view civil disobedience. If you are doing something that is against the law in protest of that law, fine. Depending on the law, I may even applaud you. But be fully prepared to be arrested/fined for your actions.

As far as the U.S. is concerned, I think he should be free to spout off any foolishness that he wants to, as long as it's in accordance with our laws (i.e. slander, not shouting "fire" in a crowded theater, etc.). If he isn't getting any support, I think people should ignore him, and if he is, they should protest him. But he is protected under our free speech laws.

_________________
Maggie Chambers

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. ~ B. F. Skinner


Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:23 am
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 2 posts ] 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
Designed by ST Software for PTF.