If you condemn someone's actions or speech, it doesn't mean you're opposed to their

[Uncle Joe]

First Amendment Rights, it just means you're using your own freedom of speech to criticize.

The people speaking out against this church; burning Korans aren't suggesting the church has no right to do so, they just believe it to be stupid, counterproductive and possibly dangerous.

To not speak up against what they perceive to be wrong would be doing more damage to the First Amendment, than warning of the consequences and repercussions of a foolhardy act.

[JerseygirlCT]

1. That seems to be difficult for some to understand

Particularly many on the right.

[Brickbat]

2. And to say these church members are exercising their First Amendment rights and that I support their

right to do so does not mean I support what they're doing. (I know you know that; just wanted to spell it out for some here who don't.)

[NoNothing]

3. You are right

But some actually are saying this is or should be a crime, which *is* suggesting the church has no right to do so.

[Uncle Joe]

4. To my knowledge neither Petraeus nor any Democratic Political leaders

have suggested the church "has no right" to do so.

[NoNothing]

5. No, they wouldn't be so silly

I was referring to other posters.

[Uncle Joe]

6. I read posts as you state and some which stated or alluded that legitimate criticism

of this violated the First Amendment, I don't agree with either point of view, that's why I started this thread.

[whosinpower]

8. In some countries it would be

Canada has hate crime laws - and have prosecuted people for inciting hatred towards one group of people - regardless of gender, race or religion.

Keegstra - a teacher in Alberta was convicted under the hate crimes laws. He taught high school students that the holocaust was a grand ploy for sympathy of jews. He even tested them on it, as part of "his" curriculum. The case went all the way to the supreme court as he was defending his right to free speech. They said no - and the conviction was upheld.

If Jones was in Canada - I wonder if he would be prosecuted under the hate crimes laws. I think he would find himself in a world of legal trouble, but can't say for sure. It is very very difficult to convict someone under these laws.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. However, you can use complaints to local councils in Canada to harrass people in to bankrupcy

[Blue Meany]

7. Hey, didn't we build all those concentration camps for just this situation...

let's round up all up just before the election and declare them enemy combatants. We can't put a limit on the President's powers during wartime!! If he thinks they're a danger to the country, and if he thinks anyone who speaks sympathetically about banning a mosque in NYC will endanger our troops, well that settles the matter: they should all be sent to re-education camps until the end of the never-ending war. That goes double for anyone who dares to criticize the Commander in Chief. <sarcasm>

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Some are, some are not

Some here are taking your position, others here are saying that the ignorant fundies have no right to do it.

I agree its a provocative act aimed squarely and the international muslim community, some of whom have a track record of rioting and other violence at what they consider sacrilege. Some cartoons and a book by a British author come to mind...

[Octafish]

11. Human beings trump book burners.

If burning a book didn't hurt anybody, who cares?

When burning a book could lead to the deaths of innocent people, we should all care.

BTW: Burning books is the ultimate form of "shut up." Thanks to disgraced Adm. Poindexter and his Pentagon infowar cronies, we all could be "shut up" at the flip of a switch.

[KoKo]

12. If folks in the ME were burning the BIBLE...IMAGINE THE HOO HAW from the MEDIA/RW

They'd be apoplectic, foaming at the mouth...and their RW Fundie Preachers would be ALL OVER THE CABLES!

The NEOCONS would be HAVING ORGASIMS!

CHENEY would be up from his DEATH BEAD and RUMMY WOULD EVEN BE OUT THERE YELLING FROM HIS SKELLITAN BODY!

THE Military Industrial Complex funded (with our taxdollars) GENERALS would be ALL OVER CNN & MSNBC DECRYING THE ISLAMIST REVOLUTION! BURNING THE BIBLE! Netanyahu WOULD BE POUNDING HIS FIST IN RENUNCIATION OF THE EVIL ONES ...CALLING FOR MORE SETTLEMENTS AND TO "BOMB, BOMB, BOMB...BOMB IRAN!


It would be like "ISLAMIC MISSLE CRISIS!" To MIMIC President KENNEDY when the CIA FORCED ON HIM...the CUBAN MISSLE CRISIS!

[Nye Bevan]

13. As a Christian, I didn't really like "Piss Christ"

but I fully defend the "artist's" right to create it.