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The philosophy, work & influences of Noam Chomsky

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Subject:
From:
Tony Abdo <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
The philosophy, work & influences of Noam Chomsky
Date:
Sun, 14 Jan 2001 10:36:03 -0600
Content-Type:
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Text/Plain (28 lines)
'Free speech' dependent only on the current goodwill of the majority is
the freedom to say baa... baa... baa.      Free speech is dependent on
the right to be offensive, ethically and politically.

The truth be, free speech is not something a society either has, or
doesn't.       Rather, some societies have some free speech, and others
have more.

The right to be heard is a key component of free speech.     In this,
the US supports remarkably little of this freedom for the average
citizen.      Unless you are an advertiser.    Or a company paying for
one.     Then you get tooooooo much 'free speech'.

But then again, the US is a society where individuals (prisoners) are
not individuals, and corporations are.

Tony.
-------------------------------------------------
i can go for the definitions below ("public safety" or "safety from
bodily harm"), but what about "public morality"? isn't there room for
limiting free speech to prevent "pornography", i.e., speech that the
majority of citizens find offensive because of their ethical
preferences? i realize that this inclusion can be perverted, but what
definition cannot?

thanks for your responses.
norm

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