Just Fred wrote:

I wonder how things would perceived if the situation were reversed?  I'm referring to the free speech thing.  A couple of examples:

Several years ago there was an art exhibit in Brooklyn, NY.  Some of you may remember an artist displayed a jar of urine with a crucified Jesus in it, titled "Piss Christ".  Well, there was outrage over this to the point where Mayor Guiliani had the exhibit shut down.  Where was the defense of free speech then, and where was Geller defending those rights?

Secondly, I believe Charlie Hebdo is a satirical publication.  Different than Geller's 'contest'.  If I recall, Charlie Hebdo also ran a cartoon of Jesus performing an abortion and caused a fuss among some Christians.

Yes, there is the issue of free speech and rights associated with it, but no guarantee of what the consequences of that freedom might be.  I think Geller is simply full of hate and her organization should be thrown in with every other hate group.
 

 
Good point, Fred.  Can you imagine the outrage if some group had a contest to come up with the most pornographic image of Christ you could find?  Why provoke  people like that?

florentine wrote:

Just Fred wrote:

I wonder how things would perceived if the situation were reversed?  I'm referring to the free speech thing.  A couple of examples:

Several years ago there was an art exhibit in Brooklyn, NY.  Some of you may remember an artist displayed a jar of urine with a crucified Jesus in it, titled "Piss Christ".  Well, there was outrage over this to the point where Mayor Guiliani had the exhibit shut down.  Where was the defense of free speech then, and where was Geller defending those rights?

Secondly, I believe Charlie Hebdo is a satirical publication.  Different than Geller's 'contest'.  If I recall, Charlie Hebdo also ran a cartoon of Jesus performing an abortion and caused a fuss among some Christians.

Yes, there is the issue of free speech and rights associated with it, but no guarantee of what the consequences of that freedom might be.  I think Geller is simply full of hate and her organization should be thrown in with every other hate group.
 

 
Good point, Fred. Can you imagine the outrage if some group had a contest to come up with the most pornographic image of Christ you could find? Why provoke people like that?

There have been art exibits floating around the country for many years that have depicted Christ, Mary, and other Christian religious figures in what Christians would consider a horrible manner. Some have drawn condemnation (Guiliani  had also a problem with some others as well. See the link below). In some areas they garner national attention and in others they are ignored. It kind of depends many times on the attention the protests get in terms of press coverage (as in most things). The really unfortunate thing is that in many cases this outrage becomes entangled in the political gaming as well. We as a world and nation seem to many times thrive on the pitting of one person or religion against another. Is it really about principle or is it really about power ?   Sometimes I wonder. 

http://gothamist.com/2012/09/22/piss_christ_photograph_coming_to_ne.php



 

Last edited by tennyson (5/05/2015 8:32 am)

I NEVER realized how outmatched the officer was who took the two gunmen down till I read this

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/05/us/texas-police-shooting-hero/index.html
 

That's the value of training.
Don't let your local PD skimp on it.

florentine wrote:

Just Fred wrote:

I wonder how things would perceived if the situation were reversed?  I'm referring to the free speech thing.  A couple of examples:

Several years ago there was an art exhibit in Brooklyn, NY.  Some of you may remember an artist displayed a jar of urine with a crucified Jesus in it, titled "Piss Christ".  Well, there was outrage over this to the point where Mayor Guiliani had the exhibit shut down.  Where was the defense of free speech then, and where was Geller defending those rights?

Secondly, I believe Charlie Hebdo is a satirical publication.  Different than Geller's 'contest'.  If I recall, Charlie Hebdo also ran a cartoon of Jesus performing an abortion and caused a fuss among some Christians.

Yes, there is the issue of free speech and rights associated with it, but no guarantee of what the consequences of that freedom might be.  I think Geller is simply full of hate and her organization should be thrown in with every other hate group.
 

 
Good point, Fred. Can you imagine the outrage if some group had a contest to come up with the most pornographic image of Christ you could find? Why provoke people like that?

In the interest of good taste and board rules, I wouldn't post pornography here, but will use this as an example...



Now as country where free speech is the cornerstone of who and what we are, I kinda of shrug my shoulders at this and think to myself that while I don't know why people would spend their time doing this sort of thing, I wouldn't consider it:

1 - Hate speech
2 - Worthy of a being shot over, even though it certainly would be offensive to devout Christians.

So my question is what's the difference between what Gellar did and what the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" did?

I saw this stated in a blog post earlier and it in something I agree with....

The reality is I'm not standing for or with Pam Geller, the KKK or anyone else I may disagree with. I'm standing for myself. Someday each of us may find ourselves on the "wrong" side of "all right thinking people" and unless we draw a firm and bright line all the time, we should not expect it to protect us when we most need it.