freedom of speech

[bugzpodder]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6197543.stm

This isnt exactly news in that Yahoo! had released names of bloggers to the chinese authority which ultimately lead to their arrests. But exactly what does this mean in terms of us? A while back I've heard that a kid threatened to replay the Dawson college shootings by calling the guy a "saint" on myspace. But he was immediately arrested on the grounds of making threats.. My point is, what you say on your blog could be incriminating... so what's the difference? Who gets to decide if someone has violated the law? The government. So how is it that we supposedly have the freedom of speech, while people in china allegedly doesnt?

[bugzpodder]

wikipedia

Quote:

The constitutional provision that guarantees Freedom of expression in Canada is section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: ... (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication

Due to section 1 of the Charter, the so-called limitation clause, Canada's freedom of expression is not absolute and can be limited under certain situations. Section 1 of the Charter states:

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. (emphasis added)

[TokenHerbz]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061230/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saddam_14

[1of42]

I'm sorry, but what exactly is your question here? Why we have free speech as Canadian citizens, while Chinese citizens don't? I would think that's obvious. Because we live in Canada, and they live in China. The fact that the forum in which the speech is directed is the Internet makes no difference.

[bugzpodder]

that is precisely the question... why do you think Canadians have the freedom of speech and the Chinese doesn't? This obviously seem to be the general consensus.

However, whatever you say can be "used against you in a court of law" in both countries. The only difference here is that there are more things you can't say in China (and a lot of them are unreasonable), which translates to that there are more freedom of speech in Canada than China, not that the Chinese does not have freedom of speech, right?

[TokenHerbz]

each country has there own rules and laws.

[Andy]

i think bugz was pointing out the western hypocrisy of freedom of speech. canadians/americans believe they have that freedom and continue to attack the countries who dont. While in reality, people aren't as free as they think they are.

[we64]

don't you ask yourself what does free really mean?
Because I can't seem to really get the definition of free, it doesn't matter what the dictionary tells you (and t doesn't explain much anyways). What do you think free means?
Generally people would tell me something like being free, you can do whatever you want. Clearly that is not what free means. Then some people would tell me, you can do whatever you want under certain rules and laws. But that is just weird, isn't it? almost like playing a game, you can't hit that or break that, because it is set by the rules, programs in this case. YOU ARE FREE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT though. But really? is that what free is all about? playing in a game with set of rules (laws?) Probably lots of people disagree with this one too... So after all, what is free? what are we really talking about when we say the word free?

[unknowngiver]

In my opnion,there is no such thing as "Freedom". It is just a bunch of things that you are allowed to do by the government

[Amailer]

Why, do you want people to have complete freedom? Do you know how much chaos that would cause?

[Remm]

/Agree
All freedoms need limitations to keep people from chaotic actions. Just look at any instance where someone has been 'above the law'.

Between Canada and China, it really isnt a matter of who is free, but who has more of that freedom, since nither are truely free.

[Craige]

I heard about this, and I think it's ridiculous the way it went down. North Americas views on Freedom of Speech is horribly unfair. We believe in Freedom of Speech, but believe that only we should have it. Are we all not of the same human race? Why should it matter if one is writing from China or North America? You either believe everybody should have Freedom of Speech, or they shouldn't. Their should be no barrier of nationality to divide what we feel as a fundamental freedom. Yes, he broke the laws in his Country, but by our standards, what he wrote was acceptable. So why is it then, that he should be arrested because some chump decides to run his mouth to the China government?

It's the same thing with the Sadam execution. He was tried under his laws, for a crime which should have been tried under the American Government. They had no right to try him under his own laws. He should have been tried under American law.

[Amailer]

Why should he have been tried under American laws? He was being charged with murder of Iraqi people, not Americans.

Though, I don't understand why they rushed through the whole thing, got him hanged before a holy day; As if they wanted more violence :/ He still had several other trials to go through.
Also, who hangs now days? Thats just wow :\ I saw the video, pretty um, well his neck wasn't looking to good

[unknowngiver]

Amailer @ Sun Jan 14, 2007 8:01 pm wrote:

Why, do you want people to have complete freedom? Do you know how much chaos that would cause?

Nopes, unfortunately i don't!
but thats the sad thing, we are not mature or responsible enough to enjoy complete freedom so we have to put limits to it!

[bugzpodder]

i am not too familiar with Saddam, but one can be tried for crimes against humanity and genocide in international criminal court. cases that comes to mind are Milosevic and Hitler