They are the same thing.

Actually, it was "speech against", not just 'speech', which is pretty ****ing similar to "criticism".

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Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.

Gypsy Soul Memories
Scuba Diver Life
My YouTube Channel

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The non-sequitur is the demand to show show where the Constitution authorizes corporate personhood when the rights in the Constitution are as Obama said negative, what the government may not do to you.

Obviously the free exercise of religion means people can choose to reject religion. This right to reject religion doesn't extend to supressing the rights of others to exercise theirs. Exposure to a crosss in the public square may offend the atheist but it doesn't violate the Constitution.

This should make everyone, regardless of political affiliation, nervous.

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This is where we part ways. I disagree. If by 'public square' you mean govt property, I think it does violate the constitution since the presence of it portrays a government establishment of religion or religious views/preference.

That said, it doesn't offend me since that's next to impossible anyway, but it shouldn't be there.

__________________


Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.

Gypsy Soul Memories
Scuba Diver Life
My YouTube Channel

How about instead of pandering to atheist sensibilities we instead opt for freedom by allowing the display of religious symbols on public property? Want a star of David, go ahead. Want a symbol of Islam, put it up. As long as it is privately funded the government isn't endorsing one religion over another.

Religious expression in our government is nothing new. The degradation of our Constitutional religious rights largely by judicial decree is a modern development.

No, that would just make our government property look stupid by allowing ****ing anyone to put up whatever they want.

__________________


Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.

Gypsy Soul Memories
Scuba Diver Life
My YouTube Channel

"Similar"? Sure.
But "speech against" is too broad, encompassing MORE than just "criticism" which is the problem.

I can see some lawyer jerk-off trying to argue that illegal threats or terroristic speech (e.g. bomb threat) could be classified as "speech against".
I see a VERY significant distinction here.

And another perspective, if the words are so similar why not just use "criticism" instead.
I would totally get behind using the word "criticism" instead.


Have you confused this post with another thread?


Your rights end where mine begin.
Remember that phrase.
You have no right to "exercise" your religion when they impose upon my rights.

"Exposure to a cross in the public square" is not exact enough to realistically assess the situation.
It's the governmental endorsement placing that cross there which is often the issue.
The government has no business picking and choosing religious symbols to advertise.
To pretend the government getting involved in that is an example of YOUR "exercise" of religion demonstrates how you don't appreciate where YOUR rights end and our government begins.


I don't understand the mentality that an absence of a Christian symbol somehow equates to "pandering to atheists".

Furthermore, your own bible had something to say about this type of gawdy, self-indulgent showmanship...

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
~Abraham Lincoln