I just read in my local paper an editorial about how boycotts and pressure on other companies and organizations to distance themselves from Chick-fil-a are issues of "free speech suppression". I think sometimes people on both the left and the right need a refresher course on what "free speech" is and isn't.
Free speech, imho, means the government (key word) can't treat you any differently for speaking your mind. The government can't take action against you (fines, imprisonment, etc). It doesn't protect you from public backlash nor does it insulate you from legal activity that results.
The public is neither required by "free speech" to like nor respect what you have to say. If you own a business and your speech makes people angry, you may lose customers, there may be boycotts and corporations may decide that associating with you is just too damaging to their own brand image. That's not "free speech", that's "free markets".
Free speech, imho, means the government (key word) can't treat you any differently for speaking your mind. The government can't take action against you (fines, imprisonment, etc). It doesn't protect you from public backlash nor does it insulate you from legal activity that results.
The public is neither required by "free speech" to like nor respect what you have to say. If you own a business and your speech makes people angry, you may lose customers, there may be boycotts and corporations may decide that associating with you is just too damaging to their own brand image. That's not "free speech", that's "free markets".
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
