(August 13, 2012 at 8:23 am)A Theist Wrote:(August 13, 2012 at 12:47 am)Tempus Wrote: In the bolded part it seems like you're saying "our country gives you freedom of speech... so shut up!" Can you see the problem with that? Sometimes people criticize their country because they want it to be a better place, regardless of how good or bad it already is. Pointing out that other countries wouldn't tolerate dissent doesn't address the legitimate criticisms of the country you reside in.No. That's not the way I meant it. I wasn't telling him to shut up. He has every right in this country to run his big mouth and to jack his jaws no matter how much of his goofy bullsh*t I take issue with. In America he has every liberty to his opinions and to criticize this country. America also allows me those same liberties to respond. Speech is a valued freedom here. We have greater liberties with vocalizing our opinions than most European countries do. I was only trying to point out, that in the course of his shoveling out vitriol and hogsh*t and America bashing, he should at least appreciate the liberties he has in this country without the worry of government retribution that he would receive in other countries,...I wasn't telling him to shut up.
Who here doesn't value freedom of speech, please tell me. You do realize if we atheists here did not value freedom of speech we are surrounded a majority of theists.
And as far as "America bashing", do you think the entire history of this country has been all peaches and cream? I'd say slavery and genocide of Native Americans was pretty sucky for those minorities at the time. I'd also say that women not being allowed to vote sucked.
There is a huge difference between criticizing what your government does, and "bashing". When my government fucks up, why shouldn't I criticize it? Or is that "bashing" only reserved for people you agree with?
You do not own a monopoly on what constitutes an American. If we are allowed to dissent and disagree as afforded by the First Amendment, then then a citizen is only based on the common law of the legality of being born here, or naturalized. Our political parties or positions on a god claim do not change that.
