Why is it that this whole cartoon thing has taken away our right for free speech?
140429
it will only take away our freedom of speech and freedom of expression if we allow it to.  There should be and cannot be EXTERNAL standards placed upon our ability to preserve our rights as free Americans to express ourselves --> even if the 'offended' party disagrees with that.\n\nThere is definitely another reason for this sudden outbreak of violence.  The cartoon is FIVE MONTHS OLD.
202318
Well they say we have free speech but i think its really limited speech you can say what you want as long as it dont offend somebody which is hard to do cuz you can say something and not mean nothing by it but someone could get offended
860175
I personally agree with you but, it is seen as a form of free speech so it is protected by the Constitution.There is nothing we can do about it but, it is still disgusting to do that.
1129435
What utter nonsense. What you want is freedom to say whatever you want without consequences.  That's a very different thing.\nPeople using this kind of question to make political points against ANY administration are just silly, as some of your answers did.  They are willing to undermine our country's reputation for political "points".\nTruth is, we have free speech, and so do the people who respond to you, argue with you, disagree with you, and even insult you. If you are watching what you say, it's because you are too timid to say what you mean and stand by it.\nYou still have the freedom to do that, and that was all that was ever granted us in the first place.\nPeople also have a right to respond to your speech.\n\nYahoo! Answers and other groups that provide a forum for you to speak get to add their own rules.  Just because you use the forum does not mean you get the right to dictate what the rules of that forum are.  They have the right, as owners of the site, to determine that.  If they wanted to limit it to people who can talk only about pink dyed poodles without the participants using the letter "p", they could (not much of a market in that), and have the right to do so.\n\nSomeone loans you a soapbox, but they get to decide whether you use it, or get to take it away if you don't follow their rules.\n\nHOWEVER, you are free to start your own website, your own newsletter, your own T.V. station, your own radio station, and you get to make the rules.\n\nIF you did, would you want people coming with insults about you and your views, or spewing filth to insist that you had to spend your money so they could "speak freely"?\n\nWhat nonsense.  You have no right to ask that.
906702
It's called freedom of speech.
1049019
It's tolerance gone astray.\nI don't care about being PC, but, if you take a look around the internet, it's not only the government who is obsessed, private citizens are also stomping out anything that might even remotely offend anyone, anywhere.\n\nIf you take that into consideration, it's an attempt at taking away our right to free speech.
119722
Since some of those cartoons were also published in an Egyptian paper months earlier (presumably to condemn them), then I guess the Danish aren't alone.\n\nBesides, Danish laws of free expression apply to people in Denmark. If you want the cartoons to be censored because of other peoples's laws, then you should be ready to accept outside judgments on your culture as well.\n\nAnd besides again, the protests are driven much more by local politics than the nature of the cartoon.
94706
We have freedom of speech. We can say what we think but we also understand that others also have that right. If we reacted with violence every time we were offended, society would turn to chaos. With freedom comes the responsibility of respecting other peoples freedom.
306706
This is a real hot potato - your right to free speech is crucial\nBut there is also a responsibility to ensure others aren't offended and minors aren't corrupted\n\nSo maybe the answer is to have a safe area and an open area - in the open area anything goes but access is restricted to over 16's and people who are easily offended won't look there either??
180919
The line is drawn between free speech and hate speech.\nThis is a theory developed by freedom of expression supporters which is ment to define what goes and what doesn't.\n\nDefinition varies and many disagree on what goes where (eg: most people would see the Holocaust matter brought under free speech, on certain conditions, while others still want to keep the taboo).\n\nGenerally speaking, free speech embraces things that aren't particulartly aimed at hurting or insulting others and are supported by accepted arguments, facts and proof.\nOn the other hand hate speech are opinions gratuituously spilled just to provoke and insult.\n\nThis doesn't help much and the debate goes on.\nStill most people see the cartoon deal under hate speech because it's not sustainable by arguments (there are many ways to make fun of Islam without resorting to attacking religious principles of non-graphical depiction).\n\nA more fierce debate goes around the Holocaust, where free-speech supporters say that discussions around the events and the number of victims should be allowed and proof needs to be gathered to support supporters and deniers (if the supporters are right, why do they need a law to hide behind if they have strong arguments).
177505
We don't have freedom of expression.  We have free speech.  We have laws to protect this right, and laws against the things you mentioned.  The only thing missing is ethics on the part of the public.  Remember the quote:\n\n‘When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.’ \n\nThat quote from Edmund Burke in ‘Thoughts on the Cause of Present Discontents’ has, in general use, come to be delivered as, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ \n\nWhich ever version you prefer, the message is the same: evil will, therefore good must.\n\nPeople too often remain silent, then wonder why "Government", as if it some outside agency, does not control their lives more.  Look to your own lives and ask, "Have I been more present and active in protecting our institutions of free speech, journalism, publishing, and other media?"\n\nThat is the only way it will change, not further legislation and government paper and ink.
1158636
FUNNY HOW AROUND THE WORLD  there were massive portests against the cartoons even people killed, embassies burned, diplomats attacked and boycots of denmark...\n\n\nBut why none against the treatment of women in islam, \nforced arranged marriage,\n the lack of gay rights with gays executed, \ngirls stoned to death for making love etc...\n\nWHERE WAS THE OUTRAGE?\n\nIe important stuff not silly cartoons...\n\nIf I was Allah Id say stop sucking up to me go rescue the girls...
474621
well the very simple fact that they Finlay apologized to all Muslim's people about that cartoon's indicate that it wasn't part of Democratic thinking!!! because democratic thinking Say's that you are allowed to express your self the way you want BUT without hurting any body's feeling's and crossing some red lines that could've led to some serious consequences!!
136997
Yes, it should be of unlimited proportions. Freedom of speech should not and cannot be twisted to the point where it is no longer freedom of speech.\n\nHowever, freedom of speech goes hand in hand with the idea of personal responsibility and accountability. Producing those cartoons was technically legal, but it was irresponsible. Surely the cartoonist knew that those cartoons would cause trouble in extremist countries.\n\nHowever, I also think that the Islamic world is greatly overreacting. They are ruining their credibility and making themselves look like a bunch of whinging little kids who riot at the most petty insult. Do you know how many "Jesus Christ" parody websites exist online? How many Christians burn down embassies for stuff like that?
777651
People being too politically correct is a major issue. It only dulls our senses to what is really going on and what is dangerous. We are becoming too...."tolerant" of immoral behavior, ruining innocence for our children too soon, allowing poison ideas to run wild in our country....giving too much leniancy to enemies of our ideals. ...etc. It's sick and sad. Probably a side effect from everyone being on LEGAL DRUGS pushed to us like candy from our doctors. It's turning everyone into zombies who think everything is fine and dandy.
298655
Nothing at all as I believe everyone has the right to free speech and if we start banning things because it offends some people then where do you draw the line\n\nThe cartoons were just that - cartoons.  Meant to be taken lightheartedly and not even published with the intention of causing offence.  When it's put into context Islam is one of the lesser mocked religions as I believe a lot of people are aware of the sensitivities that may be aroused in Muslims by speaking out against what to them is more than just a religion being as it is, a way of life.\n\nIn any event, there have been far more cartoons about Christ than about Muhammad (PBUH) and often much more hateful and disparaging.\n\nI don't have a religion as such and if I did it would probably be Baha'i which is effectively where the individual takes strands from different religions and lives their life according to them.
538607
You are entitled to your opinion and it is censorship to remove any opinion even if it is racist, sexist, obscene or inflamatory.\n\nI personally find your opinion insulting, but I would gladly defend your right to both have and speak it.\n\nFreedom is having to tolerate a man screaming at the top of his lungs what you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.