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This is for the " love it or leave it crowd" Is free speech protected or NOT?

I feel for anyone who is angered or frustrated over postings that do not support or validate your views. All the same I do want to know what some one honestly thinks and feels on topics like the war in Iraq. - Did the public school system stop teaching civics? Where is it patriotic to only express supporting, ( my country right or wrong ), opinions? In a free market place of ideas, it is said the truth emerges. Is this what some folk are trying to suppress?

Public Comments

1. Free speech is supposed to be protected, however there is a continual battle over what kind of free speech is protected. The reality is that over time, more and more kinds of free speech are now illegal. Its a sad thing that there are people who don't understand that the Constitution says these freedoms are INHERENT, they are not granted.
2. People have the right to voice their opinion and even say horrible hateful things about this great country. But on the other side, people ALSO have the right to voice their opinion about wishing the American-haters in this country would leave. Their entitled to that opinon too. They arent saying that you shouldnt have the freedom to say what you want, they are just saying they think this country would be better off with you gone.
3. Are you saying the "love it or leave it crowd" are not entitled to free speech? They dont have the right to tell you to leave this country if you hate it so much? Double standard.
4. Free speach only for the republicans, theirs is the only way and if you don't like it take the highway. Isn't that a hoot.
5. Of course freedom of speech is protected. As with all freedoms it is not cake once baked but a flowing stream where the banks must always be worked with to keep the flowing free. To restate the obvious: 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. - First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This words as stated are clear and concise, but they are not cast in concrete with no maintenance need. Rather, they are a fertile bed which needs constant care of weeding and fertilizing. The court is one type of weeding . . . . “The main purpose of constitutional provisions like the First Amendment was said to be, to prevent all such previous restraints upon publications as had been practiced by other governments, and they do not prevent the subsequent punishment of such as may be deemed contrary to the public welfare.” re: Patterson v. Colorado [1907]. Justice Holmes expanded when he opined in Schenck v. United States [1919] “It well may be that the prohibition of laws abridging the freedom of speech is not confined to previous restraints . . . . But the character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done. (Then he uttered that most famous phrase) The most Stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic.” The point is the that the courts have altered and refined our view of this amendment (not the freedom). So too is lobbying (a form of petitioning) a tool you can use to ensure that your perspective of this amendment (vis-à-vis the individual right of freedom of speech) is given worthy attention. Freedom of speech is real and protected, but the question is, will you (any you) work to ensure it stays protected?.
6. Free speech is protected. The problem is that free speech also includes hate speech and policitally incorrect speech. So if you want free speech then you must protect the rights of the hate speakers and the policitally incorrect.
7. I love America so there's no reason I should leave. (Besides, I'm a Mayflower decendant so I was here first, unless you're a native American. ) Loving America means staying here and putting in the hard work needed to see America live up to her ideals. As much as they'd like me to emigrate to France or Canada, I'm not going anywhere. How does my love of country manifest itself? The same way as my love for my family and friends. If I see a friend doing something that could hurt him, I don't cheer him on and tell him he's doing the right thing. Admittedly, that would be the easiest (or most amusing, in a sick kind of way) thing to do. The harder—and more responsible—approach is to warn my friend of the dangers of his actions. It might piss him off, but I have to be willing to take that chance. As for free speech - with freedom comes responsibility. You have the right to say whatever you want, as long as you are willing to stand behind it.