# Freedom of Speech?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech/111721>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 31, 2002, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech/111721 "2002-05-31T13:07:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Mandos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mandos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandos)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-of-speech/111721/21 "2002-06-02T02:14:21Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Shagnasty \*  
> \*\*
> 
> Oh good lord, where do we begin. George Bush was not interfering with the right for anyone to speak. If the accused had chosen, he could have gone back to his room and printed off 10,000 copies of his diatribe and passed them out on the street or he could have stood in the middle of the quad at his school and preached to his heart’s content. HE CHOSE TO BE THERE. He was disturbing the peace. He chose to be there and interrupt very rudely and in a crass manner. No one can defend that.
> 
> BTW, in case you didn’t read the articles closely enough, this was a private speech after George Bush was out of office. It had nothing to do with government.
> 
> How can one determine who has the right to interupt? That is easy. No one has the right to interupt. If you do, you are interferring with another’s right to free speech.
> 
> I can’t believe that anyone seriously holds this viewpoint. Let’s say that on your wedding day that your crazy uncle decides to stand up and spout off the virtues of the holcaust and Hitler in the middle of the ceremony. If that his right?
> 
> Let’s say that a woman goes to a large church ceremony every Sunday and starts swearing at the top of her lungs every time the minister opens his mouth. Should she not be removed? \*\*

In all honesty, I was not focusing on the situation in the article as freedom of speech in general. I would not defend what the person did. I would never do such a thing myself, but the question is, technically, do people have the right? Who has and does not have the right to interrupt? What about everyday conversations, in which one person interrupts the other? What of situations in which an interruption can save lives? What of situations in which an interruption can endanger lives? I would have posted a completely new thread, but I decided that it might be considered a waste of space. I simply find it an interesting subject of discussion. I am not really stating my views, but my interpretation of what is stated in the Constitution. If I am incorrect about what is technically written there, I am incorrect in my interpretation. However, if I am not…are my statements a reflection on the rights given to the people?

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