OT: For all the genocidal dictators...

[Growltigga]

Please note that I made no attempt at a qualitative judgment of this type.

You are quite right. If you had made any qualitative judgement in support of the content of said website, I suspect our debate would be substantially more heated. I am also glad that you are a man of moral fiber (and 2 notches on the headboard to boot!!) as this makes debating with you far more fun than if you were a man of straw with the morals of an alley-kat

My initial point was merely to whether or not it was "permissable" under the principle of free speech.

Exactly, you started this debate on this propostion which takes us back to the prime subject matter of our discussion being, inter alios and summarised, 'do American citizens actually enjoy the level of freedom of speech they think they do?" This is what we are still debating.

With regard to the locii of our discussions, I would point out that primary brake on any application of "fundamental" civil rights of any society is how the legislative body of that society applies them through the relevant judgement-making apparatus. In both our countries, that is left to the courts. Our debate therefore must focus to a greater extent on how the courts seek to restrict freedom of speech and I have sought to provide you with some examples for your own education.

You are right about the changing nature of legal systems. However, laws do not change (or even evolve) that rapidly and therefore, it is a safe basis for a foundation for my position. I will concede that my position today may not be the same as my position in 10 years.

I seek to exapnd and progress this discussion by various related side arguments because I am a highly trained and highly intelligent legal professional and I am, of course, seeking to make these arguements in order to guide you to a rational and balanced consensus. You must remember this and also remember that when you make similar (although not so well constructed or profound) side arguments, it is because you are desparate and are "throwing teddy bears out of pram"

[ July 19, 2002, 16:47: Message edited by: Growltigga ]