Another big example of these freedoms under fire is at American universities. In some cases, kids are being forced out of their majors because they have beliefs that contradict their professor's. Here's a story where a student group effectively had to pay for their right to free speech when a similar group did not: On campus, Should You Be Forced To Pay A Price For Free Speech? « Alliance Defending Freedom Blog. Is this right? It's happening all over the country and it's insane. You can find more of these stories at http://www.speakupmovement.org/StudentStories.

I hate to use the Duck Dynasty story, but here is a good article on the First Amendment: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ampaign=Buffer.

 

I like it.

 

Originally Posted by RogAir
Who is stopping freedom of religion, expression, and speech?


The government.......

 

You mean the slavery condoned in the Bible?
...and we can all be grateful for that!
Congratulations...you are what is wrong with the world.

 

And you should not have used the Duck Dynasty story; the linked article is drivel, written by a fool. The Duck D. flap has never been about the First Amendment, but rather it is a kerfluffle between an individual and his employer.

 

Yeah, I was hesitant to post it, but it is on topic. The PC mafia didn't like what was said and acted accordingly. And we'll have to agree to disagree about the situation having to deal with freedom of speech. A&E tried to fire him for his speech (which they disagreed with). One of the points of the article (and this thread) is we can live in the same country and get along with people who hold different viewpoints than us without trying to shut out their voice and freedom to state their opinion.

 

I do so love this discussion! I think that both sides have excellent points--Rog--nice job concisely explaining that side of the argument--I slightly disagree with your conclusion (but not by much) . The issue isn't about Freedom of Religion or Expression in our country--everyone on all sides of the argument completely agrees in principle with these sentiments--the actual fuzzyness of where the lines are will be endlessly debated for all times--as long as we are able to have the debate--that is a good thing!! My opinion is that from the initial colonists (English and Dutch Protestant separatists) to the founding Fathers (60+% Christian, 30+% Deist to a God that looks like the God of Jesus), to the modern times--Christianity has always had a special place in the traditions of our country. What is being challenged these days is not the freedom of Religion (Particularly Christian Religion) or the exercise thereof--but the notion that Christianity should have that special place in our country. Other belief systems--largely due to the expansion of multiculturalism and in the quest for diversity have allowed other beliefs to ask for the same rights and privileges that Christian have had for 200 years. To me this is the essence of the debate--should this expansion be accepted and celebrated (and the resulting loss of special status for Christianity) or should it not? What I specifically have not mentioned, and will now just to further stoke the fire--Is is that special relationship one of the main things that have made our country great? Will the changing of that relationship diminish our status in some way due to different moral codes and alternate guiding principles...And my favorite--has the recent (40 yrs)expansion of Islamic Nationalism resulted in a similar expansion of Christian Nationalism--that is making this debate more wedge like that it ever has been...

 

Disagreeing with another's expression do not impinge on their freedom. People disagree with one another all the time. What this is and has always been about is the first party expressing themselves and then not wanting to be held accountable for the consequences of said expression.

I'm guessing from your avatar that you are current or former USAF. Consider the following: if you chose to make some sort of speech considered repugnant or hateful while still serving, do you not think that your superiors would censure you for doing so? You were free to express yourself but not free to avoid the consequence. (All hypothetical, of course...I'm sure you're a person of good character; I was just making an example.) It is important to remember that with freedom comes responsibility.

 

I don't want to turn this thread into a debate about the Bible, so we can either start a new thread, PM, or drop it because no one is going to change someone else's mind about this subject. Suffice it to say that my opinion is that the Bible is a historical document that recorded what happened historically without necessarily "condoning" it (polygamy, slavery, adultery, etc.). If you read the Bible in context you will find that the "slave" is our brother, an equal in the eyes of God, and whoever sins by mistreating the slave, orphan, widow, foreigner, etc. will face God's judgment. God allows us to make our own choices without "condoning" the sins we choose. That's all I have to say about that.

 

You are exactly right. That's the main point of this thread: we can all agree to disagree without impacting others' freedoms. Most of us would like the PC mafia to go home, although they have the right to state their opinions as well. The problem occurs when overstep our bounds and impinge on others' freedoms (like the Christmas card story that started this thread). And of course I acknowledge that free speech does have its limitations (e.g., you can't scream fire in a crowded theater) and that we sign away certain freedoms when we join the military (e.g. being held accountable for what we say, allowing SPs to search our vehicles for no just cause).