Thank you, this is excellently written - and reasoned. Framing this sort of thing as a question not of 'freedom of opinion' but of 'whom do we choose to defend' is, I think, very useful.
We have strict laws about freedom of speech, and those are enforced by the legal system. However, in my house you had better speak respectfully to anyone I have allowed to enter it, and if you can't, I will ask (and have asked) the offender to leave. My exercise of social power in that context has nothing to do with the legal system, and everything to do with setting and enforcing social expectation.
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tim's journal
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Date: 2012-09-05 05:26 pm (UTC)We have strict laws about freedom of speech, and those are enforced by the legal system. However, in my house you had better speak respectfully to anyone I have allowed to enter it, and if you can't, I will ask (and have asked) the offender to leave. My exercise of social power in that context has nothing to do with the legal system, and everything to do with setting and enforcing social expectation.
So, again, thank you.