Category Archives: Free Speech

Throughout the United States, Americans trumpet free speech as one of our nations bedrock principles that is, so long as the speakers message aligns with our personal views and tastes.

This weeks public outrage flashpoint is reaction to comments made by the patriarch of the family featured in the constructed reality TV show Duck Dynasty. Phil Robertson spoke his mind on various issues in an interview for GQ magazine; among the topics that led to his suspension from the show are his views on homosexuality and comments he made about African Americans.

For those only somewhat familiar with the show, Robertson is the guy who leads the family in prayer at the dinner table at the end of every episode. His conservative credentials are on display on a weekly basis actually more frequently than that, since A&E shows re-runs of its most popular program on what seems like an endless tape loop.

Once Robertsons comments which include referring to gay people as homosexual offenders and saying that before the advent of federal entitlement programs black people were happy; no one was singing the blues were publicized, gay and minority rights groups wasted no time in calling for retractions, apologies, organized outrage and TV banishment.

A&E responded by suspending Robertson from the show indefinitely. The family has since issued a statement that reads, in part: We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm.

Hmm, public outrage, calls for removal over personal statements say, where have I heard that before?

A year ago, in the wake of Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher killing his girlfriend, Kassandra Perkins, before turning the gun on himself, NBC Sports personality Bob Costas was shredded by conservative groups for using his segment on Sunday Night Football to criticize the ease of access to firearms. As reported by ABC News, former South Carolina GOP executive director Todd Kincannon shot this message out on Twitter: I think Bob Costas owes America an apology. And I think he should be fired from Sunday Night Football.

Free speech isnt free if it only works for those with whom you agree. And speaking of the First Amendment, lets clear something up: Phil Robertson is not being denied any of his rights. He is free to believe and say whatever he chooses. A&E, which paved the road to riches for him and his family, also is within its rights to protect its franchise, but the networks reaction is a bit sanctimonious since it was more than happy to make big bucks off of the celebration of redneck life that Duck Dynasty shamelessly promotes.

As Scott Collins wrote in the Los Angeles Times, The reality programming trend in recent years has made stars out of everyone from bakers to pawnbrokers to catfish-wranglers. That these authentic people have opinions and values that dont always jibe with those of the media elite in New York and Los Angeles isnt necessarily surprising.

Jeffrey McCall, a media studies professor at DePauw University, told Collins: If A&E didnt like the Robertsons as they are, then why did they give them a weekly platform?

Continued here:
Reality TV sparks another free speech debate -

Discussing Section 18C and Free Speech on Channel 31 #39;s The Schtick
AIJAC Senior Policy Analyst Sharyn Mittelman discussed proposed changes to section 18c of Australia #39;s Racial Discrimination Act on Melbourne community TV Cha...

By: AIJACvideo

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Discussing Section 18C and Free Speech on Channel 31's The Schtick - Video

Free Speech Project - Kleon McPherson- TnT Santa
The Free Speech Project airs Monday-Thursday 6:45am, 10:45am, 1:45pm and 4:45pm on 96.1WEFM, STAR947HD 107.7 Music for Life Visit our websites: 96wefm.com ...

By: TTRN -Trinidad and Tobago Radio Network Limited

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Free Speech Project - Kleon McPherson- TnT Santa - Video

New human rights commissioner Tim Wilson: A classical liberal pursuing right to free speech
18/12/13 New human rights commissioner Tim Wilson says he #39;s a classical liberal pursuing right to free speech.

By: Greenshack Dotinfo

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New human rights commissioner Tim Wilson: A classical liberal pursuing right to free speech - Video

Free Speech TV Ring of Fire featuring Howard Nations: Global Elites Terrified By Income Inequality
In this segment on Free Speech TV #39;s "Ring of Fire" program, Howard L. Nations, a nationally renowned trial lawyer, discusses how income inequality has been r...

By: HowardNations

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Free Speech TV Ring of Fire featuring Howard Nations: Global Elites Terrified By Income Inequality - Video

Cal State Fullerton students take advantage of free speech wall
Young Americans for Liberty bring a free speech board to the quad on Wednesday Oct.2.

By: DailyTitanMultimedia

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Cal State Fullerton students take advantage of free speech wall - Video

Press Release December 18, 2013

Modesto Junior College (MJC) has agreed to suspend enforcement of its free speech zone as it negotiates an end to a federallawsuitfiled by a student prevented from handing out copies of the Constitution on campus on Constitution Day. A jointstipulationfiled in federal district court yesterday by MJC and attorneys for student Robert Van Tuinen states that the parties have agreed on several significant revisions to the colleges free speech policies and procedures, pending final approval by the Yosemite Community College District, expected this spring. Read Full Article

Yesterday evening, 11 organizations joined the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) in filing anamici curiae(friends of the court)briefin thecaseofBarnes v. Zaccari. The brief asks the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to reverse a federal district courtsSeptember 2010 rulingdismissing former Valdosta State University (VSU) student Hayden Barnes First Amendment claim against former VSU President Ronald M. Zaccari. In May 2007, Zaccari expelled Barnes for peacefully protesting Zaccaris plan to construct two parking garages on campus, calling acollageBarnes posted on his personal Facebook page a threatening document andlabelingBarnes a clear and present danger to VSU. Read Full Article

Oregon State University (OSU) joins an elite group of colleges and universities by becoming just the sixteenth school in the country to receive FIREs highest, green light rating for free speech. OSU earns its rating after eliminating its only remaining speech code earlier this year. It is Oregons first-ever green light school. Read Full Article

FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for December 2013: Virginia State University. According to Virginia States student conduct code, students may not offend ... a member of the campus community. This policy violates the U.S. Supreme Courts explicit holding that [i]f there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable. Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 414 (1989). As a public university, Virginia State is legally bound to uphold its students First Amendment rights, which this policy clearly violates. Read Full Article

Harvey Silverglate has always had an inclination toward free speech. In our latest video, FIREs Co-founder and Chairman of the Board talks about what led him to a career fighting censorship. He also tackles such subjects as his alma mater Harvard Universitys deception when it comes to academic freedom and what label people give him that makes him laugh the most. Read Full Article

Free speech is important on campus. Tell us why, and you could win a $10,000 college scholarship! High school juniors and seniors planning on attending college are invited to enter FIREs essay contest. Winners will receive one of nine college scholarships worth $10,000, $5,000, $1,000, or $500. Enter by January 1, 2014. Read Full Article

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Foundation for Individual Rights in Education - Official Site

Chris Berg comments on free speech win in High Court
Appearing on ABC News Sydney on Wednesday 18 December the IPA #39;s Chris Berg welcomes a High Court decision that lifts restrictions on political donations.

By: Institute of Public Affairs

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Chris Berg comments on free speech win in High Court - Video

Cable TV, thank God, is not the government.

Sigh. I cant believe we have to explain this, over and over, every time a media figure loses a job (or just gets a for-show suspension) over saying something stupid, but: Losing your job for saying something that embarrasses your private employereven if that is a media outletis not a free speech issue. It is not a First Amendment issue. It may be dumb, it may be justified, but it is not a constitutional violation. It is not for Phil Robertson, Alec Baldwin, Martin Bashir, Don Imus, The Dixie Chicks, Rush Limbaugh, or anyone else. People changing the channel or not buying your products because of what you said is not censorship; nor is losing a business deal for same.

Cable TV is not the government, thank God. But apparently some politicians both inside and outside the government could stand to reread the First Amendment.

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Duck Dynasty Suspension Isn't About Free Speech

'Wilson is singularly under-credentialled when it comes to what's really going on in the free-speech marketplace.' Photo: Wayne Taylor

Chris Berg must be livid.

He's the man who's done the heavy lifting on free speech at the Institute of Public Affairs and authored the official text, In Defence of Freedom of Speech (subtitle: From Ancient Greece to Andrew Bolt).

Instead, Attorney-General George Brandis appoints Tim Wilson, the institute's policy director, to the Human Rights Commission with particular focus on free speech and everyone's right to hold opinions.

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Well, here's my opinion.

Wilson is singularly under-credentialled when it comes to what's really going on in the free-speech marketplace. His utterances since his appointment was announced show a slender grasp of the issues at stake and his outpourings beforehand are a collection of corporate-inspired outrages about government trying to protect the health and welfare of society.

He decries restrictions on cigarette advertising and the plain packaging legislation (a free-speech issue for the tobacco industry), attempted regulations on poker machines, taxes on alcohol, moves to control the intake of fatty and sugary foods, and banning tanning beds.

All of this, in Wilson's view, is paternalistic nonsense, along with global warming and the tax on carbon. Let the market rip and allow people to gamble, smoke, drink, get fat and artificially tanned until frizzled. No doubt these views are genuinely and passionately held and, entirely coincidentally, they are held by the corporate sponsors of the Institute of Public Affairs.

We don't know for sure, because the institute is so keen on free speech that it won't share with us who is paying the piper, but it seems to run along the lines of a massive cash-for-comment machine.

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The PM's two-fingered salute