For us Yanks (Excluding Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter) we have the First Amendment, which reads as follows:
quote:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Should the Government be allowed to limit the freedom of speech? How about the Mike Diana case? If you aren't familiar with it, you can click the outraged purple face at the end of this post. To sum it up, Young Mike Diana was self-publishing his own comic book called Boiled Angel, Which was deemed obscene by a Florida judge. Diana was sentenced to a three-year probation, during which time his residence is subject to inspection, without warning or warrant, to determine if he is in possession of, or is creating obscene material. He is to have no contact with children under 18, undergo psychological testing, enroll in a journalistic ethics course, pay a $3,000 fine, and perform 1,248 hours of community service. He is not even allowed to draw anything that is considered obscene. What the hell is that?!?!?! Should the Government have the right to limit what can be said or drawn for the interest of the general public? What would the guidelines be? Who would be the arbitrator in this kind of case?
I want answers people!!!
