There is no justification for the violence and destruction. That said, if someone doesn’t like your message and says so, that’s using their free speech rights. Conservatives seem to think anyone who objects to the racism, misogyny, oppression, personnel insults and fascistic themes presented are censors. That’s because they are very thin-skinned.
Heh Red – It stops being a free speech issue when the speaker is no longer speaking and turns to violence. Throwing bricks, smashing windows, setting fires, are NOT expressing yourself in a civic and socially acceptable manner.
If they want to stand outside and shout, sing, march, cajole, etc. That is free speech and I support their right to do so. But they don’t have a right to be heard. Nobody should be forced to listen to them. Free speech stops when it infringes on the rights of others.
I remember the hippy protests on UW-Madison campus back in the late 60’s and some of them were totally acceptable: Singing protest songs, chanting etc. Others turned to violence (most notably the bombing of the math building) and that is not protected.
I guess it is only free if you are saying what they want you to. The most important freedoms to uphold are the ones you don’t agree with. If you are really going to pout about the student’s protest, maybe you should try and understand what they are trying to say. We already know what Yiannopoulos was there to say.
The violence is not acceptable, and is already being seized upon by the right-wingers as “proof” of the evil of ALL the many protests taking place, most of which (Women’s March, last weekend’s Rally against the Muslim Ban) were completely without violence.
This violence does not represent me, my views, or liberals in general. Indeed, it may have been provoked by agents provocateur of the Right. (Isn’t that what they always say about violent right-wing riots?)
The classic formulation is: “Your right to swing your fist ends where it meets my face.”
Not that it will make any difference to the Righteously Indignant Right (RIR?), but here is the information about the group that was violent, both at the inauguration and at Berkeley. They are NOT liberals or even Democrats, they are anarchists (and say so), but I’m sure y’all will ignore that little detail.
“Antifa combines radical left-wing and anarchist politics, revulsion at racists, sexists, homophobes, anti-Semites, and Islamophobes, with the international anti-fascist culture of taking the streets and physically confronting the brownshirts of white supremacy, whoever they may be,” Antifa NYC told The Nation last month.
Small wonder the RWs support the character in the White House who wants the Press to “shut up!” As FDR said: “A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward.”
Y’all are overlooking the fact that many True Americans WANT a fascist dictatorship in America. And, as always, what we must do to achieve this goal is to first get rid of the Press and the Universities, and we are doing an admirable job of turning people against both.
Mike Menard about 7 years ago
free speech at the universities? what a laugh
Darsan54 Premium Member about 7 years ago
There is no justification for the violence and destruction. That said, if someone doesn’t like your message and says so, that’s using their free speech rights. Conservatives seem to think anyone who objects to the racism, misogyny, oppression, personnel insults and fascistic themes presented are censors. That’s because they are very thin-skinned.
Mephistopheles about 7 years ago
Heh Red – It stops being a free speech issue when the speaker is no longer speaking and turns to violence. Throwing bricks, smashing windows, setting fires, are NOT expressing yourself in a civic and socially acceptable manner.
If they want to stand outside and shout, sing, march, cajole, etc. That is free speech and I support their right to do so. But they don’t have a right to be heard. Nobody should be forced to listen to them. Free speech stops when it infringes on the rights of others.
I remember the hippy protests on UW-Madison campus back in the late 60’s and some of them were totally acceptable: Singing protest songs, chanting etc. Others turned to violence (most notably the bombing of the math building) and that is not protected.
Learn to tell the difference.
Mr. Blawt about 7 years ago
I guess it is only free if you are saying what they want you to. The most important freedoms to uphold are the ones you don’t agree with. If you are really going to pout about the student’s protest, maybe you should try and understand what they are trying to say. We already know what Yiannopoulos was there to say.
Motivemagus about 7 years ago
The violence is not acceptable, and is already being seized upon by the right-wingers as “proof” of the evil of ALL the many protests taking place, most of which (Women’s March, last weekend’s Rally against the Muslim Ban) were completely without violence.
This violence does not represent me, my views, or liberals in general. Indeed, it may have been provoked by agents provocateur of the Right. (Isn’t that what they always say about violent right-wing riots?)
The classic formulation is: “Your right to swing your fist ends where it meets my face.”
martens about 7 years ago
Not that it will make any difference to the Righteously Indignant Right (RIR?), but here is the information about the group that was violent, both at the inauguration and at Berkeley. They are NOT liberals or even Democrats, they are anarchists (and say so), but I’m sure y’all will ignore that little detail.
http://www.ibtimes.com/what-antifa-anti-fascist-group-behind-violent-berkeley-protest-against-milo-2485217?utm_source=internal&utm_campaign=most_read&utm_medium=most_read4
“Antifa combines radical left-wing and anarchist politics, revulsion at racists, sexists, homophobes, anti-Semites, and Islamophobes, with the international anti-fascist culture of taking the streets and physically confronting the brownshirts of white supremacy, whoever they may be,” Antifa NYC told The Nation last month.
RAGs about 7 years ago
Alfonso Machado has a YUGE capacity to ignore the Fox “News” attitude on truth. (I am just starting to investigate Breitbart)
Exposed: How Fox News Lies With Statisticshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7EvBxRYNME
5 Times Fox News Got Debunked Immediatelyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3uN8O9bTcc
Fox News: We Photoshop, You Decidehttp://www.businessinsider.com/2008/7/fox-news-we-photoshop-you-decide
DrDon1 about 7 years ago
^ You ( conveniently ) forget that the “LEFT” started, fought and won the War of Independence – so you can spout your views, just as I can spout mine.
martens about 7 years ago
Whoops—-sorry guys, this time I encouraged the trolls. My bad.
DrDon1 about 7 years ago
Small wonder the RWs support the character in the White House who wants the Press to “shut up!” As FDR said: “A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward.”
NeoconMan about 7 years ago
Y’all are overlooking the fact that many True Americans WANT a fascist dictatorship in America. And, as always, what we must do to achieve this goal is to first get rid of the Press and the Universities, and we are doing an admirable job of turning people against both.