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Post by rhyds on Feb 20, 2023 14:04:06 GMT 1
In a balanced society, the above were understood & accepted, we seem to have drifted into a position where 'feelings' trump everything - including reality, there appears to be 'thought crimes' on the books now, I read recently about people, including a priest, being warned/reported/prosecuted for 'silent prayer' and 'thinking about the dead' - admittedly, near abortion clinics - although they reportedly were not holding placards, had messages on their clothing or anything else. Just standing there.
(my bold) There's a big difference between standing somewhere "in silent reflection" and doing so watching people go in and out of a medical establishment. Also, the abortion debate in the USA attracts the craziest of fundamentalist whackjobs and has also led to violence, so its not surprising that the authorities would get jumpy around those kinds of places, and quite frankly would you really want a queue of silent folks standing around watching you go in to a medical establishment? Especially if said establishment is the only one in your town/city/state that provides a specific, legal service (e.g. prostate exams)? Remember that freedom of speech/expression has never been absolute, for example there's nothing stopping you from running down the high street shouting "Fire!", but do the same in a cinema and you'll soon find yourself in justifiable trouble.
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huffo
Tea Maker
Posts: 237
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Post by huffo on Feb 20, 2023 19:46:53 GMT 1
Remember that freedom of speech/expression has never been absolute, for example there's nothing stopping you from running down the high street shouting "Fire!", but do the same in a cinema and you'll soon find yourself in justifiable trouble. How eloquently put. I like that. These things are nuanced, and whilst I often don’t agree with the decisions that the authorities make, I’m not sure that on the whole I’d make better decisions, and I respect the fact that the authorities are often simply trying to do a difficult job as best as they can.
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