Bernard Lewis case, France (he was convicted):
http://www.hr-action.org/armenia/LeMonde.htm
http://www.armenian-genocide.org/Affirmation.240/current_category.76/affirmation_detail.html

Turkish Nationals, Switzerland (under investigation):
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=111&sid=5978414
http://www.turks.us/article.php?story=20050506063125876
http://archive.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=42246

The idea that all forms of “expression” are protected under the First Amendment is bogus – offensive and obscene “performance art”, to pick but one example, is clearly not fully protected, even if it has a political component or purpose. In fact, the Supreme Court is quite clear that not even all speech and writing is protected (e.g., irresponsible/dangerous speech, treason/sedition, etc.), so certainly other forms of expression may not enjoy the latitude granted to the “big two”.

Any legitimate political debate or “petition for redress of grievances” is expected to be carried out through either the written or spoken word, both of which are unambiguously protected except in a few extreme circumstances.

People should know what will happen when they say stupid things. Others will exercise their right to free speech against them.

But to go to prison? Not good………..

Why is it that most bloggers instinctively got to the correct answer on both the David Irving sentencing for Holocaust denial in Austria and the ongoing rioting due to the publication of cartoons? Is it because bloggers have some innate sense of what…

I sense that alot of people are just spoiling for the ultimate confrontation and that they in person will be shocked at the fervor in which people will get caught up by this fever.

Some years ago, my wife was asked to sing at the funeral home of her friend’s mother. She, her husband, mother grandmother and uncle all bore the tatooed number of the concentration camp where they barely suvived.

At the end of the rosary, a group of old people gather round the casket and sang a song in Polish. I was told then that this was the song they sang evey night in the camp. It told of their dreams as they saw the stars in the sky free from the horror around them and how they believed they would be delivered to enjoy that freedom.

I cried. I still cry when I remember it. To deny this truth is to accept the vilest lie that can be perpetrated on humanity. Why shouldn’t a country, the sum of its people, be allowed to denounce such a great sin?

Paul Geary over at The New Editor discusses whether or not the right to free speech can be abused: One phrase we’ve heard a number of times since the Mohammed cartoon explosion is some incarnation of “free speech abuse.”… …I…

There are particular things that are factual, historical events. The occurrence of the holocaust is one of these. So is the existence of Jesus Christ, Muhammed, and Buddha.

Now for my last sentence:
“…well, in hindsight, prison sentences *is* harsh. How could I ever disagree with you [La Shawn]? But instead, remove any form of voting rights. That seems more than fair.”

For someone to wholeheartedly deny an event that has such huge significance is detestable and should be punished, in my opinion. In the same way, some one who praises the destruction from 9/11 or calls for the blood of his own countrymen should be punished.

Maybe I’m just tired of people saying anything they want and influencing too many people with their ignorant lies and rhetoric.

Do you realize that numerous Americans have been arrested, and in some cases imprisoned, for expressing criticism of the Bush admininistration? In most if not all cases, charges were dropped, but nonetheless, the arrests have a chilling effect on our free speech rights.

For example, Cindy Sheehan was given a admission ticket by a member of Congress to attend the 2006 State of the Union address. About an hour before the beginning of the address, hot and exhaused from running up three flights of stairs, she unzipped her jacket, revealing a T-shirt that stated the number of Americans who have died so far in the Iraq war. For the T-shirt, she was arrested. Some contemporary media accounts said that she had been “protesting,” but these are incorrect. She had been silent and was arrested anyway. By the way, there is no law, rule, or any other governing authority that prohibits topical T-shirts in the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Thousands of people were arrested and imprisoned for over 24 hours for peaceful, lawful, nonviolent protest in New York during the 2004 Republican Convention.

There are numerous accounts of people who came to see President Bush during a presidential visit to local American communities, who were arrested either because they were known to oppose Bush, or because they were wearing T-shirts with comments about the Bush administration, or its war policies.

Admittedly, none of these incarcerations have lasted more than a few days.

But did you know that, among those non-U.S. citizens imprisoned in Guantanamo — I am not making this up — many are actually known by American authorities to be innocent of any war crime or attack against the United States.

So, La Shawn, let’s work together, liberal and conservative, to support free speech and oppose imprisonment for expression of ideas, and oppose false imprisonment in general.

Respectfully,

Comment by Eric Clemmons”

Eric, I agree with you 100%… as long as I’m the one deciding “proven”. I can’t wait to have you as my slave.