Where debating everything under the sun is only the beginning

I'm sure you knew that, but that was further clarification for Belfrager.

If I curse something or someone I consider holy or sacred, I will have blasphemed,
If I curse something or someone that another person considers holy or sacred, I will have  needlessly and childishly been offensive.
I don't see where the concept of free speech comes into it either way.

But the court notes that this law had already been overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2002, so it cannot be grounds for arrest in this case. After he was sued, the police officer offered two additional grounds for the arrest, one of which was an actual blasphemy law still on the books in Michigan. That law said:

CURSING AND SWEARING–Any person who has arrived at the age of discretion, who shall profanely curse or damn or swear by the name of God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

CURSING AND SWEARING–Any person who has arrived at the age of discretion, who shall profanely curse or damn or swear by the name of God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Quote from: SmileyFaze on 2014-02-21, 22:06:10

...hate speech is permissible unless it will lead to imminent hate violence...

It is not right. Because this way it depends absolutely on the offended.
The offended must have a right either to smash or sue, not both or neither.

No clarification at all for me, Sanguinemoon.

What about "I swear by almighty God to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth"? Testifying in a court of law can be a misdemeanor!

On this voyage of initially reverse expectations-with liberals fiercely advocating
censorship of “offensive” speech and conservatives merrily taking the moral high ground
as champions of free expression—the most dismaying moment of revelation took place at
Stanford.
In the course of a two-year debate on whether Stanford, like many other
universities, should have a speech code punishing language that might wound minorities,
women, and gays, a letter appeared in the Stanford Daily. Signed by the African-
American Law Students Association, the Asian-American Law Student Association, and
the Jewish Law Students Association, the letter called for a harsh code. It reflected the
letter and the spirit of an earlier declaration by Canetta Ivy, a black leader of student
government at Stanford during the period of the grand debate. “We don’t put as many
restrictions on freedom of speech,” she said, “as we should.”......... continued

Don't know William Howie Wallace but he is spot on.

He also has been known to don an Orange sash and strut about in N. Ireland.

Quote from: Colonel Rebel on 2014-03-12, 13:41:53

He also has been known to don an Orange sash and strut about in N. Ireland.

He then should have a realistic expectation that he'd be shot at, & if not sternly cry that they were badly trained, & all bad shots!

Oh you don't need to "strut" around Northern Ireland so kind of shows the youthful intelligence of a passing gnat. One can wear it in Scotland, England, Wales, Ulster, Eire (yep), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Togo, USA and some isolated places.

One can wear it in Scotland, England, Wales, Ulster, Eire (yep), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Togo, USA and some isolated places.

You are rarely overly "right." Just the over confidence of youth and that you have to try and boost your confidence by your language emphasises that one. However I will concede a point. When it comes to strutting you lot over the pond have the world championship secured in that activity! 

No you didn't take over using the same methods so don;t try that guff as an excuse for your type of dangerous imperialism. We looked after a set empire whilst your lot think they have a right to control all the world by invading, corrupting and destabilising. The same coorprate mind behind that does the same inside America hence the tens of millions in difficulty, losing homes and worse. What a typical load of old guff from a young mind but there again brainwashed from the first classroom. Hand on chest and flag everywhere except the lavatory. If it wasn't so warped would be a hoot!

Nah. You are a most appropriate example of the ex-colonists educational system (not surprised successive governments over there have been concerned). As for the immediate use of the word hypocrite. That really is 'awesome' (a favourite word of Americans! It comes from a nation that blasts the world with stuff about freedom, rights, democracy, principles but doesn't practice any of them itself. Neither across the world nor internally You come from a reasonably cumfy background so free with the assertions No other country in our age has created so many wars, infiltrated countries, maintaned fascist dictatorships than your wonderful land. The arrogance is part of the psyche and well indoctrinated so three out of three for doing a great job of portraying that!

So when immediately jumping up and quickly using a routine word such as 'hypocrisy' do make sure that your would-be high ground is unassailable. Maybe your educational new pal from Michigan could give you a few tips on laguage control  which seems beyond your capability.However it is always a smiling thing to be aware that those that accuse others of something always fail to see it in their own corner. Hypocrisy, arrogance and such can be freely stuck on the US of A by virtue of it's global actions.  On the wider aspect of free speech I do recall the widespread violence shown to Wall Street protestors and did your land no credit at all.  The only laf decent politician over there is Ron Paul and he was hemmed in by the dictatorship of the 2 controlling giants and they in turn by the corporates. Yep land of free speech and rights. Maybe it needs all those spy agencies to ensure the people are in the frame wanted and bleat about rights to fool them!
Do keep up your stance it says much more than you actually realise!!