Freedom of Speech and of Thought Being Destroyed

[Borg Refinery]

I'm a strong supporter of the John Stuart Mill line on freedom of speech.  Only where it does not cause undue harm.

Your Supreme Court agrees and has supported various limitations on what some suppose is a constitutional right to complete free speech.

It's fairly self-defeating to cite Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and co on what should and shouldn't be the case when it comes to free speech. The USSC here is considered an appalling joke right now and rightly so, the stuff they're getting away with is fairly unbelievable

The problem with 'causing undue harm' is that anything can be considered undue harm depending on who's doing the classifying

[Unlucky4Sum]

That's fair, she's funded by a big network of American libertarian thinktanks.

https://bylinetimes.com/2023/02/16/the-global-network-behind-arrested-anti-abortion-protestor/

I'm not a fan of her network or her campaigning, I'm just against the various Tory bills (and the exceptions they've made for certain protests)

But most of all I'm for freedom of expression and freedom of speech, that's what matters

I'm a strong supporter of the John Stuart Mill line on freedom of speech.  Only where it does not cause undue harm.

Your Supreme Court agrees and has supported various limitations on what some suppose is a constitutional right to complete free speech.

[Unlucky4Sum]

Why?

Because those posts in effect asserted that silent comminication should never be criminal

[Borg Refinery]

Exactly

Many people go to the gravestones of their deceased loved ones (or even pets).  It's hardly surprising if those with religious beliefs feel the need and/or get consolation by praying while there and good if it gets them some solace.

But Isabel Vaughan-Spruce chose to repeatededly go to that protected place she had no such personal connection with and it wouldn't have been that she thought her God had a limited distance range.

I agree she shouldn't have been arrested but that doesn't make her actions good.  IMHO anything but so.

That's fair, she's funded by a big network of American libertarian thinktanks.

https://bylinetimes.com/2023/02/16/the-global-network-behind-arrested-anti-abortion-protestor/

I'm not a fan of her network or her campaigning, I'm just against the various Tory bills (and the exceptions they've made for certain protests)

But most of all I'm for freedom of expression and freedom of speech, that's what matters

[Unlucky4Sum]

But are they protesting and, if so, what about?

I repeat, I've not seen any silent protests — whether standing, sitting or lying down outside the Houses of Parliament...

I have and outside embassies etc.  Most only shout for a few minutes or when TV cameras are around and then they lapse into a depressed silence holding banners.

I very much doubt any politician has committed suicide or taken other life changing decisions as a result of such.  But IIRC suicide is the leading cause of death of pregnant women. 

[Unlucky4Sum]

Exactly, THEIR loved ones. She has no affinity to these women.

Exactly

Many people go to the gravestones of their deceased loved ones (or even pets).  It's hardly surprising if those with religious beliefs feel the need and/or get consolation by praying while there and good if it gets them some solace.

But Isabel Vaughan-Spruce chose to repeatededly go to that protected place she had no such personal connection with and it wouldn't have been that she thought her God had a limited distance range.

I agree she shouldn't have been arrested but that doesn't make her actions good.  IMHO anything but so.

[Scott777]

Exactly, THEIR loved ones. She has no affinity to these women.

But possibly an affinity with unborn children who will be killed?  🤔

[Scott777]

But are they protesting and, if so, what about?

I repeat, I've not seen any silent protests — whether standing, sitting or lying down outside the Houses of Parliament...

I still don't understand how you would describe a silent protest.  Do you often go to Parliament Square and sit in front of people silently sitting down, and read their lips?  🤔

[Nick]

People can pray for their deceased loved ones from anywhere, why do you think they do it in front of their gravestones? Come on, obviously prayer is considered more effective if directly in front of what you're praying for

Exactly, THEIR loved ones. She has no affinity to these women. 

[Scott777]

The Tories really do hate freedom of protest unless it's their favoured type of protests, such as this one

And Labour, and most MPs.

[Scott777]

See posts 12 , 16 and others

Why?

[Scott777]

As keeps being said, she can do that from anywhere. You know and I know why she is there, stop pretending.

I think what you're suggesting is it's ok to arrest someone if we know their intentions, even though those intention do not involve actually doing anything, but merely thinking something.

[Borg Refinery]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT9xuXQjxMM

[patman post]

What about sitting?  Lots of people sit silently outside the HoP.  Can you describe what silent protest looks like?

But are they protesting and, if so, what about?

I repeat, I've not seen any silent protests — whether standing, sitting or lying down outside the Houses of Parliament...

[Borg Refinery]

As keeps being said, she can do that from anywhere. You know and I know why she is there, stop pretending.

People can pray for their deceased loved ones from anywhere, why do you think they do it in front of their gravestones? Come on, obviously prayer is considered more effective if directly in front of what you're praying for