Comments on: Do Nazis Have Free Speech Too? http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/ An overly eclectic, likely inconsequent[ial], and blatantly fo[w]l blog on life, family, literature, law, and religion. Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:50:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Anonymous http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-412 Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:42:00 +0000 http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-412 Here is a link  to further reporting on this matter as it moves through the German Parliament. 

Posted by john fowles

]]> By: Anonymous http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-411 Thu, 17 Feb 2005 11:48:00 +0000 http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-411 Very nice point, J. It certainly is obscene. But such an exercise is only really necessary if we feel a need to translate it into the American constitutional framework. The German constitutional framework contains some minor differences that might allow the illegalization of such speech independent of any such gymnastics. And it is rightly so. 

Posted by john fowles

]]> By: Anonymous http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-410 Thu, 17 Feb 2005 11:38:00 +0000 http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-410 I have been mulling this post over for some time now (disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer). I think the parrell could be made to the American prohibition against obscene speech. Every community has standards that can (and should) be enforced. I think a case could be made that Nazi propaganda is obscene in a German social context. 

Posted by J. Stapley

]]> By: Anonymous http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-409 Wed, 16 Feb 2005 15:26:00 +0000 http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-409 Actually, given the Germans’ unique history and needs, I meant to show with my post that such a restriction on free speech might be perfectly acceptable in their situation, where, I believe, it would not be acceptable under the US First Amendment framework. Even if I am personally uncomfortable with denying one group their freedom of speech, even though I might be personally opposed to that groups’ message, the German democratic polity does not have the same situation and needs as the American democratic polity. That is why these questions are appropriately decided by locally democratically elected legislatures–because localities have different needs and values based on history and development, etc. 

Posted by john fowles

]]> By: Anonymous http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-408 Wed, 16 Feb 2005 12:02:00 +0000 http://abev.wordpress.com/2005/02/16/do-nazis-have-free-speech-too/#comment-408 That does sound horribly oppressive. Perhaps we should go in there with troops once we finish mopping up the middle east to ensure that an “appropriate” form of democracy reigns in Germany as well. I’m sure the Germans will be at least as appreciative as the Iraqis of our liberating armies as they parade through Dresden.  

Posted by Bert

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