Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full?

[PhillySane]

During a very interesting conversation between Robert Gibbs and Russian reporter Andrei Sitov:

(CNN)
Sitov said he agreed with that characterization but persisted with his original line of thought, declaring: "This is America, the democracy, the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly, the freedom to petition your government. And many people outside would also say - and the quote, unquote "freedom" of a deranged mind to react in a violent way is also American. How do you respond to that?"

Gibbs seemed startled by the last part and asked Sitov to repeat it, so the Russian journalist said again, "The quote, unquote 'freedom' of the deranged mind to respect - to react violently to that, it is also American."
http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/13/chill-in-the...

My initial reaction was, "How could Gibbs miss what he was saying?" I got it right off the bat. But then, I tend to think this way about our "freedoms" too. Maybe some of us have gotten to the point where this isn't apparent to us, or we just accept things as they are, or this is okay, the way it should be. But maybe, certain freedoms, are a little, how can I say this delicately, excessive? Maybe its me. But I understood clearly what the reporter was saying.

Does his question seem outrageous or confusing to anyone else?

[Hannah Bell]

1. stupid comment. such "freedom" exists everywhere.

[PhillySane]

6. That's true.

But the Russian guy, speaking as an outsider, simply asked a question he thought was valid. I don't think he meant any harm by it. Everyone seemed put off by it. The way he might have worded it, "are some of your freedoms too excessive?". I just thought maybe he had a point.

[Hannah Bell]

7. i meant, the "freedom" to go mad a/o kill people exists everywhere. nothing

to do with other "excessive" freedoms.

you think people don't go mad a/o kill people in russia?

the whole thing is twaddle.

[leftstreet]

2. Ugh. "Excessive freedoms" Just ugh

:puke:

[PhillySane]

3. There are no such things?

:-)

[leftstreet]

4. There are many such authoritarian talking points, yes

But I'm sure that's not what you meant

[PhillySane]

5. What would you consider excessive, freedom-wise?

I'm really curious. Is there such a thing? And if so, how do we manage our freedoms best? Where do we draw the line?