If I were to burn a Glenn Beck book

[Phil The Cat]

Would that be OK?

BBQs are legal as far as I know! So, if I were to rip the pages out of "Arguing With Idiots" or "The Christmas Sweater", and use them to light my grill and cook my taters, maters, peppers, and corn, should I go to jail? I can imagine the possibility that a wingnut could get violent over that! So that would be incitement, correct?

Or is that prohibition limited to religious books? Or specific sacred texts? Is it OK to burn a Bible, but not a Koran? Torah is safe, but the Rig Veda is toast?

BTW - Personally, I don't believe in burning ANY books! I have NO respect for anyone who burns ANY books - even Beckerhead or Limpblob! But I am more frightened by losing our liberties to appease the scariest noisiest group, than I am the RESPONDANT ACTIONS of said group!

[ananda]

1. Beck doesn't care and he would probably relish it.

First, it means you bought the books. Sales.

Second, it means more meat for the faux hatenews crowd.

[Mz Pip]

2. You've got the right

just like Jones has the right. The rest of us have the right to criticize, humiliate and comdemn him for the actions.

I just wish we could be a bit noisier about it.

[Enrique]

3. you will need to check with Petraeus first

make sure it doesn't endanger the troops.

[arbusto_baboso]

4. As long as you don't burn it IN THE BOOK STORE, you should be okay.

[cleanhippie]

5. Yes, it is.

And here is why....


Individuals burn books, flags, effigies, etc as a form of protest and is okay and should be protected.

Governments or groups burn books to keep others from reading it, enforcing their values on everyone.


For you to burn a beck book in protest would be ok, and I might join you.

For the government or a group to burn a beck book to keep others from reading it (while in the case of a beck book may actually help prevent ignorance, but I digress) is tyranny and must be prevented.

[JuniperLea]

9. So you're saying the intent, or the intended outcome...

Is the deciding factor?

Just thinking out loud here... mulling over what you've said here, which is quite frankly the more well thought out comment on this subject I've seen in days.

Why would I burn a Beck book? To piss him off, I think, and piss of his horde of slack-jawed knuckle draggers. Are said SKD's worthy of my time and worry? They are loud, but stupid, so no, I don't think so.

There were so many, many times in the past 10 years when I wanted to burn GWB in effigy... I'd probably still do it given the opportunity.

[cleanhippie]

14. Not so much intent, but more as to who and why.

Unless the individual or group is calling for and inciting violence as part of their freedom of speech, then the act is protected. They have no responsibility for the actions others take in response to them (If they burn a book, and an angry mob burns down their house in retaliation, the mob is at fault) but if the action is meant to stir up followers to incite violence (if they gathered their flock, burned books and called for the death of the authors, then that is illegal).

If the GOVERNMENT burns a book, it is always tyranny, period. There is NO reason government should prevent anyone from reading anything. (I'm talking about adults here)

[hlthe2b]

6. Only in a toxic waste dump... n/t

[liberal N proud]

7. You had to buy the book therefore Beck made money

No he doesn't care, burn all you can afford.

[slampoet]

10. Most of the conservative books end up in the dollar stores sooner than later. Do it then and show

the receipt.

[Radical Activist]

8. If you really want to piss off Glenn you should recycle them.

[scheming daemons]

11. Since Beck books give off more heat than light, this would be a very "green" way to go

...

[Phil The Cat]

12. In retrospect

I wouldn't want to ruin my meal with all the toxins! :puke:

And burning the ink and glossy paper scares me too!

[Fleshdancer]

13. It's always best to ignore Glenn Beck books

burning it is an insult to fire.

[LanternWaste]

15. What prohibition?

There is no prohibition-- merely peer pressure (although I do understand the desire to over dramatize it to better validate a point).

"But I am more frightened by losing our liberties to appease the scariest noisiest group.."
If you're coming at this from a legal/rights standpoint, again-- nothing is being lost, and the opposition to that burning is no more, nor no less the exercise of that very same right you're alluding to.

When there is an actual and legal prohibition against burning a book, then and only then do you have a case. Unless or until that point is reached, you are merely minimizing your own position by conflating peer pressure, popularity and moral obligations with legal standings and rights.

[Phil The Cat]

18. There are some here

Who believe this stupid, annoying, but protected act should be illegal! This is what I am frightened of!

[Turborama]

19. I have read a lot of threads on this topic and haven't seen one DUer say that

The dogma in the opposite direction is much stronger.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LanternWaste]

22. there's simply no prohibition to speak of...

Until and unless it's a law, there's simply no prohibition to speak of; and that is a completely separate thing from people considering a thing should or should not be law, and the fear that causes you.

You are conflating two wholly separate constructs.

[ejpoeta]

16. wouldn't you have to buy it first? beck would love it because he'd be getting royalties on the sale

of his book. i do not like the idea of burning books. but people have the right to do it.

[Cleita]

17. If you look at various RW think tank websites you might

be able to get a free copy. All those books that those institutes buy to make it appear that those books are best sellers are often offered for free if you sign up for the newsletter or other BS to get your personal information.

[Jim__]

21. In general, it's legal to act like an idiot.

In general, it's also legal for other people to point out that you're acting like an idiot. Hope that helps.

[jillan]

23. I would seriously be concerned about the toxins that were emitted from that book, before you even

burned it.

[Fumesucker]

24. I have a better use for Beck, Limbaugh, Coulter etc books..

Bumf..

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bumf