Comments on: Limits of Free Speech http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/ A Candid Blog Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:26:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Abid chengazi http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13829 Abid chengazi Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:49:43 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13829 Free Speech is the tool in the hand of bigger powers to silence the mere mortals like us. Free Speech is the tool in the hand of bigger powers to silence the mere mortals like us.

]]> By: Yasir Warsi http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13798 Yasir Warsi Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:18:35 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13798 Freedom of speech is a loaded gun, it needs utmost care, investment of time and hard work Freedom of speech is a loaded gun, it needs utmost care, investment of time and hard work

]]> By: James Sutherland http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13797 James Sutherland Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:17:36 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13797 America is a model of force and freedom and moderation -- with all the coarseness and rudeness of its people. America is a model of force and freedom and moderation — with all the coarseness and rudeness of its people.

]]> By: Zubair Jaffer http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13796 Zubair Jaffer Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:16:45 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13796 Mr. Dan, you have graciously told us about the US perspective. If you want to know about Pakistani perspective, then need not to go too far. Ever heard of PEMRA? Just check this out, http://www.pemra.gov.pk/rules.html You would forget the word "Draconian" Though the current government claims to abolish the black rules of PEMRA, though the sword still hangs. Mr. Dan, you have graciously told us about the US perspective. If you want to know about Pakistani perspective, then need not to go too far. Ever heard of PEMRA? Just check this out,

http://www.pemra.gov.pk/rules.html

You would forget the word “Draconian”

Though the current government claims to abolish the black rules of PEMRA, though the sword still hangs.

]]> By: Javed Karim http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13795 Javed Karim Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:13:30 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13795 Does the FM radios run by the clerics in the FATA area can be called as freedom of speech? Does the FM radios run by the clerics in the FATA area can be called as freedom of speech?

]]> By: Babar Khan http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13794 Babar Khan Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:11:12 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13794 Convince me, don't silence me. Convince me, don’t silence me.

]]> By: Saleem Badayuni http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13793 Saleem Badayuni Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:10:14 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13793 Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth, it's as simple as that. For some it would be idiotic and others would find it conducive, and some would downright libelous. But then I am what I speak and I would speak what I think true. Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth, it’s as simple as that. For some it would be idiotic and others would find it conducive, and some would downright libelous. But then I am what I speak and I would speak what I think true.

]]> By: Dr. Ayesha http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13792 Dr. Ayesha Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:08:07 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13792 Democratic citizens know that they must bear the burden of responsibility for their speech if they are to benefit from its protection of their rights. Continuous vigilance and consistent control is the price of freedom of speech. Democratic citizens know that they must bear the burden of responsibility for their speech if they are to benefit from its protection of their rights. Continuous vigilance and consistent control is the price of freedom of speech.

]]> By: Dave http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13791 Dave Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:06:26 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13791 Americans traditionally thought of their country as a "city upon a hill," a "light unto the world." Today only the deluded think that. Polls show that the rest of the world regards the United States and Israel as the two greatest threats to peace. This is not surprising. In the words of Arthur Silber: "The Bush administration has announced to the world, and to all Americans, that this is what the United States now stands for: a vicious determination to dominate the world, criminal, genocidal wars of aggression, torture, and an increasingly brutal and brutalizing authoritarian state at home. That is what we stand for." Addressing his fellow Americans, Silber asks the paramount question, "Why do you support " these horrors? His question goes to the heart of the matter. Do we Americans have any honor, any humanity, any integrity, any awareness of the crimes our government is committing in our name? Do we have a moral conscience? How can a moral conscience be reconciled with our continuing to tolerate our government, which has invaded two countries on the basis of lies and deception, destroyed their civilian infrastructures, and murdered hundreds of thousands of men, women and children? The killing and occupation continue even though we now know that the invasions were based on lies and fabricated "evidence." The entire world knows this. Yet, Americans continue to act as if the gratuitous invasions, the gratuitous killing and the gratuitous destruction are justified. There is no end of it in sight. If Americans have any honor, how can they betray their Founding Fathers, who gave them liberty, by tolerating a government that claims immunity to law and the Constitution and is erecting a police state in their midst? Americans traditionally thought of their country as a “city upon a hill,” a “light unto the world.” Today only the deluded think that. Polls show that the rest of the world regards the United States and Israel as the two greatest threats to peace.

This is not surprising. In the words of Arthur Silber: “The Bush administration has announced to the world, and to all Americans, that this is what the United States now stands for: a vicious determination to dominate the world, criminal, genocidal wars of aggression, torture, and an increasingly brutal and brutalizing authoritarian state at home. That is what we stand for.”

Addressing his fellow Americans, Silber asks the paramount question, “Why do you support ” these horrors?

His question goes to the heart of the matter. Do we Americans have any honor, any humanity, any integrity, any awareness of the crimes our government is committing in our name? Do we have a moral conscience?

How can a moral conscience be reconciled with our continuing to tolerate our government, which has invaded two countries on the basis of lies and deception, destroyed their civilian infrastructures, and murdered hundreds of thousands of men, women and children?

The killing and occupation continue even though we now know that the invasions were based on lies and fabricated “evidence.” The entire world knows this. Yet, Americans continue to act as if the gratuitous invasions, the gratuitous killing and the gratuitous destruction are justified. There is no end of it in sight.

If Americans have any honor, how can they betray their Founding Fathers, who gave them liberty, by tolerating a government that claims immunity to law and the Constitution and is erecting a police state in their midst?

]]> By: Kashif Riaz http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13790 Kashif Riaz Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:03:41 +0000 http://www.pakspectator.com/limits-of-free-speech/#comment-13790 You say that " if they [blog owners] print too much, they may give a free forum to offensive idiots, and too much garbage will alienate their readers," but then if there are too much idiot comments then shouldn't the blog owners be not publishing those comments, as it would also displease many readers and would lower the site's serious traffic? Blog posts and blog comments both are the form of speech, how can we restrict one and cannot restrict others? Thanks for allowing me to chime in this party. You say that ” if they [blog owners] print too much, they may give a free forum to offensive idiots, and too much garbage will alienate their readers,”

but then if there are too much idiot comments then shouldn’t the blog owners be not publishing those comments, as it would also displease many readers and would lower the site’s serious traffic?

Blog posts and blog comments both are the form of speech, how can we restrict one and cannot restrict others?

Thanks for allowing me to chime in this party.

]]>