orb@whuts.UUCP (SEVENER) (03/26/86)
> > As far as I'm concerned, the right of free speech is the right not to > be prevented from speaking, it is not the right to be supplied with a > microphone aor an auditorium at another's expense. Nor is it the > right to be heard, i.e., the right to have an audience. > > Mike Sykora Your definition of "free speech" would go over quite well with the Communist Party of the USSR, the National Socialists of Germany, P.W. Botha of South Africa, and all other dictators throughout the world. "Sure, say whatever you like in your closet, but as soon as you speak to any other people in public places you will be arrested." Please explain to me how this definition of "free speech" differs from dictatorship? disgusted, tim sevener whuxn!orb
ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig) (03/27/86)
>> As far as I'm concerned, the right of free speech is the right not to >> be prevented from speaking, it is not the right to be supplied with a >> microphone aor an auditorium at another's expense. Nor is it the >> right to be heard, i.e., the right to have an audience. >> >> Mike Sykora > Your definition of "free speech" would go over quite well with the > Communist Party of the USSR, the National Socialists of Germany, > P.W. Botha of South Africa, and all other dictators throughout the > world. > "Sure, say whatever you like in your closet, but as soon as you > speak to any other people in public places you will be arrested." > > Please explain to me how this definition of "free speech" differs > from dictatorship? > disgusted, > tim sevener whuxn!orb Sure, that's easy. In a free society you can say whatever you like on your own property, and you have the right to acquire property if you wish. Morever, even if you don't own any land, all you have to do is to find one property owner -- anywhere -- who is willing to give you a place to plant your soap box. Not only that, but people in this country do indeed have the right of free speech in public places. A shopping mall, however, is not a public place.