The right to freedom of speech is absolute

Amazing story I just read about the mother of a dead US marine who's funeral was met with a protest from the odious Westboro Baptist Church..

And what is amazing is that despite the hurt from his death and the hateful things that the crazies from Westboro have been shouting, this lady thinks that the free speech of the Westboro Baptists is a right that deserves protection even though it has caused huge pain to her family!

The Westboro Baptists are a strange cult, their "church" consists of family members who take on board the bs that Fred Phelps pumps out over his pulpit. This Wikipedia article is a good place to learn about these crazies...

There is only one valid restriction on free speech that I can think of, and that is when somebody calls on others to commit violence, not even the US constitution protects that - and rightly so. The BNP choose their words very carefully so as not to tell people what they really think and want to do, not just because some of their supporters might then realize how extreme they actually are, but the jail cells would soon be filled with them

So far, the US has (in my opinion) the best levels of free speech. In this country, and elsewhere in Europe it is illegal to say certain things. Throughout Europe it is illegal to deny the holocaust, yet it is perfectly acceptable to deny the massacre of Armenians by the Turks. Up until recently, it was still an offence to blaspheme here in the UK, despite a growing none Christian population as well as many Christians who saw those laws as outdated and in need of reform or abolishment.

As for Sir Alex's remarks about referees, I am of the opinion he should be allowed to say those things - as does every Football commentator and fan! The FA has a history of corruption and whenever someone who works for a Football club opens their mouths about any concerns they have, they get fined and what not... On this one, I think the FA are way out of order!

The US is not perfect when it comes to free speech, but I think if we regard their system as the bare minimum we should demand... We are in safe waters