On Freedom of Speech and its Purposes

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America was not deemed necessary by the founders of this nation in order to protect “nice” or “politically correct” speech. It was deemed necessary so that men would never be afraid to express the thoughts of their consciences, or to reveal what they believed to be true. The truth does not need laws to defend it, only lies do. These laws come in the form of “Hate Speech” and related legislation—which have already imprisoned and muffled many noble and otherwise law-abiding men and women in the other so-called Western Democracies, supposedly “free” nations. Freedom of Speech is a Christian ideal and an American ideal and its greatest threats are the enemies of Liberty, God and Christ. Those who seek to suppress free speech - whether it is agreeable to most of us or not - are the greatest danger to our liberties, and they seek to subject us to tyranny. - William Finck

ChenangoNY.Net applauds the April 15th, 2010 Evening Sun editorial, "Protecting despicable speech", on the outcome of the Snyder lawsuit against the Phelps (well) organization.  And we add that any citizen, for any reason, who attacks our basic God-given rights is fortunate to get off with having to pay only the court costs.  (And we also have several family members in the military, while at the same time questioning the motives of our government in its overseas wars).