Things freedom of speech doesn't mean.

[howard112211]

-That opinions are the same as facts.
-That all opinions are equally valid.
-That a specific opinion is not bigoted bullshit.
-That a person should never be criticized for their opinions.
-That people should not be held accountable for the things they say.
-That a person making some outlandish bigoted statement is somehow delivering a tribute to freedom of speech.
-That the fact that the act of saying something is protected somehow legitimizes that very thing.
-That specific symbolic gestures which are a protected form of expression may not be inherently contradictory to the idea of free speech.

[JDPriestly]

1. Yes. Freedom of speech means that the government cannot restrict

speech based on its content. It does not mean that people can say whatever they want without facing criticism. I don't think it is appropriate for Petraeus to make some of the statements he has made although I think it would be fine if retired military leaders made those same statements. The government can ask for more tolerance as Hillary Clinton and Holder and Obama have done. But a government leader should not make any statement that could be construed as calling for a limitation on the right to free speech of someone. Petraeus should allow retired military officers to speak up for tolerance without mentioning Petreaus' name.

[whyverne]

2. So Petraeus doesn't have freedom of speech.

Interesting.

[The Magistrate]

3. Actually, Sir, As A Serving Officer there Are Some Restrictions On What He Can Say

[JDPriestly]

9. Actually, he does not have the right to advocate restricting someone's

First Amendment rights if he is speaking for the government. And as a general, he speaks for the government. As I said, he can prompt people who are not government employees to speak for what he thinks.

I should add that Petraeus can express his opinion, as long as he does not make it sound, as it sounded in Olbermann's program, as if he is making the case that by exercising his free speech, the pastor is committing an act of treason. Petraeus words, if accurately quoted, sounded as though he was trying to say that the pastor was committing treason by burning the Koran.

If Petraeus said something to the effect that he personally thinks it is wrong to burn the Koran and then asked people not to do it as a personal request, stating that he has many Muslim friends who are good people and are hurt by this, then that would be OK. It is any attempt to try to restrict speech by using the power of the government that is, in my view, prohibited.

[quaker bill]

4. The freedom to say it

does not mean that saying it is not stupid and unfortunate. The Freedom of Speech is not a license to be an idiot in the public square and bear no consequence for it. It is the freedom to be an idiot in the public square regardless of what people think of it, and the people remain every bit as free to conclude you are a moron for doing it.

[seabeyond]

5. what i love is people yelling their right to say it in order to stop others from countering

as if they expect people not to challenge what they say. and when someone does challenge it, they well, ... i have the right to say. ya, sure. and i have the right to call bullshit.

[hobbit709]

6. To me, freedom of speech means

everyone has to right to open their mouth and see how far they can insert foot.

[zeemike]

7. It is all about creating the image.

You act like you are right in all things and that after you give your sales pitch people will bend to your will....if not the one you are arguing against perhaps some of the observers...creating the image of success.
The right have been working this gig for a while now.

[NJ KID]

8. Things Freedom of speech does not mean

You are correct however i would like to point out that few things are actual facts. Technically a "FACT" is something that can be repeated by others and will have the same result. For example it is a fact that in on earth if you drop something it will fall to the earth. This has been repeated millions of times with the same result. A fact is not something that are open to people's interpretation. For example it is not a fact that Obama is the worst president we ever had even thought conservatives want to treat this as a fact. Everyone, even people who do not not what they are talking about, have opinions however very few people have facts.

It is true all opinions are not equally valid. A person's opinion only carries the validity (Let's measure this in terms of weight ) that another person is willing to give it. So if Rush Limbaugh gives his opinion and i give it zero weight then in my mind Rush Limbaugh's opinion carries zero weight. Each person's opinion is given weight by each person that hears or reads that opinion and it is subjective. For example a rush limbaugh listener might give rush's opinion a weight of 2 or 3 and those on that person's mind rush limbaugh's opinion carries a weight of 2 or 3. it is unfortunate that we can not somehow police all opinions and give them the appropriate weight in everyones mind.

also Freedom of Speech means i have the right to say whats on my mind but you as the listener or not obligated to listen to my ranting. For example rush limbaugh has the right to say the things he says but i have the right to turn the channel or not listen to him or if i do listen to him give him the weight i think his opinion deserves.

A second person always has the right to criticize anybody else's opinion, Remember since "facts" are repeatable they do not fall under this requirement, in any way they believe is reasonable and also everybody should be held responsible for the things they say.

The very fact that someone says something, except for things that are facts based on the definition above, does not legitimize it in any way. Again if it is not fact ( as defined above) then it is opinion, and nobody's opinion is automatically legitimized.

Now there are people who each of us respects individually, and if someone you respect says something then you as the listener will give the respected persons opinion more weight then someone that is not respected.