British man jailed for wearing offensive t-shirt

I actually agree with him being jailed. It's the American equivalent of the Westboro Baptist Church, in which I'm sure a clear majority of Americans think they should be imprisoned for what they do. Not only that, but particularly in Northern Ireland, wearing something like that could lead to a riot. Just a difference in culture really of what's acceptable and what's not. The police deserve respect.michaelP4

Just because a majority disagree with someone's message doesn't give you the right to jail someone. That's mob rule.

I think a lot of people here are looking at this from an outside view without taking into current opinion of the matter in this country. If the police hadnt arrested him, he would of got his head kicked in.clyde46

[QUOTE="clyde46"]I think a lot of people here are looking at this from an outside view without taking into current opinion of the matter in this country. If the police hadnt arrested him, he would of got his head kicked in.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="clyde46"]I think a lot of people here are looking at this from an outside view without taking into current opinion of the matter in this country. If the police hadnt arrested him, he would of got his head kicked in.clyde46

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="rastotm"] Some nations simply value a certain level of respect, so the majority of britain won't mind that people like t-shirt man get punished.

tenaka2

its the a law that people of the U.k. agree with. The WBC would never be allowed to protest as they do if they were in the U.K., personally I prefer to live somewhere that does not tolerate hatred.

Not all people have the u.s. mind set, this is not a bad thing.

So that makes it just? A majority of Americans thought it was fine to enslave people back in the day, doesn't make it right.

You're basically saying mob rule> rule of law.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="michaelP4"] Okay so, what if someone wore a t-shirt celebrating 9/11? Are you telling me that there wouldn't be calls for that person to be imprisoned?michaelP4

The whole point of free speech laws is to protect the minority from the majority...

Whether people would call for imprisonment is irrelevant. All that matters is if the government takes forceful actions or not against the speech.

[QUOTE="michaelP4"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Are you sheltered? Because there is offensive ideas/opinions every day and yet no one is calling for imprisonment over it. And if they are...so what. It doesn't and shouldn't be against the law to state an idea nor opinion.Laihendi

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]At least with the speech laws and gun laws we know US citizens have more freedom than the counterparts in the UK. Maybe you should have joined the Revolution.Laihendi

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Doesn't matter. If you find him an offensive clown then tell him so. Ignore him. But when you start allowing only certain forms of speech it's an erosion of personal liberty. Everyone should have the right to make an ass out of themselves if they so desire. I don't believe government should sanitize thoughts. Maybe you don't see the danger in that......but I'd rather have people free or as free as one can be.LJS9502_basic

Ok, you got me on that one.

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Doesn't matter. If you find him an offensive clown then tell him so. Ignore him. But when you start allowing only certain forms of speech it's an erosion of personal liberty. Everyone should have the right to make an ass out of themselves if they so desire. I don't believe government should sanitize thoughts. Maybe you don't see the danger in that......but I'd rather have people free or as free as one can be.Laihendi

This is a blatant violation of freedom of speech. Laihendi

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="Laihendi"]Do you think everyone involved in the health care industry works for free? You pay via taxes.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="Laihendi"]This is a blatant violation of freedom of speech. harashawn

[QUOTE="harashawn"][QUOTE="Laihendi"]This is a blatant violation of freedom of speech. Laihendi

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="Laihendi"]This has already been covered many times, but I'll repeat myself. No one is denying that what the guy did was illegal. We're saying is that it shouldn't be illegal.Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"][QUOTE="harashawn"] Hate speech isn't protected by freedom of speech. It's difficult to determine whether this really qualifies as hate speech, though.harashawn

[QUOTE="TopTierHustler"]

[QUOTE="TheFallenDemon"]
it's a good thing that i have a contigency plan for that

tenaka2

one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. Plus no country in the world has funded more terrorists then the u.s.

He's the equivalent of a suicide bomber today who doesn't want other to have religious freedom and is willing to die to prevent it.

[QUOTE="harashawn"][QUOTE="Laihendi"] I'm talking about moral rights, not legal rights.Laihendi

[QUOTE="clyde46"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Doesn't matter. If you find him an offensive clown then tell him so. Ignore him. But when you start allowing only certain forms of speech it's an erosion of personal liberty. Everyone should have the right to make an ass out of themselves if they so desire. I don't believe government should sanitize thoughts. Maybe you don't see the danger in that......but I'd rather have people free or as free as one can be.LJS9502_basic

It comes under the hate speech laws. You seem to have the impression that the laws of the u.s. are better then the laws of other countries. Need I remind you that in the U.K. we can still by a large soda :P

And just in case there is doubt with regards liberty I will post this.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="clyde46"] Free-speech is negated when what you are doing is a breach of the peace. That is the law, that is what the police enforce and he broke that law. End of, no ifs or buts about it. tenaka2

It comes under the hate speech laws. You seem to have the impression that the laws of the u.s. are better then the laws of other countries. Need I remind you that in the U.K. we can still by a large soda :P

And just in case there is doubt with regards liberty I will post this.

[QUOTE="Laihendi"][QUOTE="harashawn"] I'm not sure what you mean.harashawn

[QUOTE="SaintLeonidas"]If it is against their public order offence laws then I fail to see the problem. Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"][QUOTE="SaintLeonidas"]If it is against their public order offence laws then I fail to see the problem. chaoscougar1

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="clyde46"] Free-speech is negated when what you are doing is a breach of the peace. That is the law, that is what the police enforce and he broke that law. End of, no ifs or buts about it. tenaka2

It comes under the hate speech laws. You seem to have the impression that the laws of the u.s. are better then the laws of other countries. Need I remind you that in the U.K. we can still by a large soda :P

And just in case there is doubt with regards liberty I will post this.

Oh...and I can still buy a large soda. That's not US law. Just NY law. Not the same thing. Don't confuse the two...

[QUOTE="harashawn"][QUOTE="Laihendi"]Any self-aware free-thinking individual who chooses to be free is entitled to freedom by default due to the absence of there being a reason for why he shouldn't be free.Laihendi