The Leftist View of Free Speech in Action

I was linked to a video yesterday taken from a cell phone of an exchange between a peaceful religious protestor holding a sign somewhere near or on the Arizona State University campus and a (assumed) student of said university. The sign, held by a pastor or a preacher I can reasonably assume, says in large bold letters

Warning
Drunkards
Thieves Liars
Masturbators
Fornicators
Homosexuals
JUDGEMENT DAY

 

It doesn’t say, you’re going to hell, it isn’t all Westboro proclaiming hate, it is simply a warning sign, a kind of take measure of your life and repent. In the video it doesn’t appear that the protestor is in anyone’s face, nor is he yelling his message, he is just holding a sign. That is fairly innocuous unless you happen to be a leftist, bent on making sure that your brand of free speech is the only view expressed or heard by the masses.

I’ve linked to the video, but fair warning the student is gratuitous in his use of profanities screaming them at the top of his lungs throughout the minute and a half clip. There is also use of violence and Mark owns the student no less than twice.

But here is the thing, not only does the student physically attack the man and tries to take his sign; he also gives his rationale for his violence. At the 1:03 mark the student says, “Your sign is f—ing offensive.” At 1:20 he then screams, “Its hate speech, it provokes assault.” I’m sorry, the sign made provoked you to assault someone?

That is not how the criminal justice system works; there is no heckler’s veto when it comes to non-violent free speech even by protestors as noted in Gregory v. Chicago (1969). You cannot assault someone just because you think they are engaging in hate speech, which by the way is also protected by the First Amendment under Texas v. Johnson (109 S. Ct. at 2544).

But this is the new tactic of the left. If they don’t like what you have to say they want it to end through whatever means necessary. They want the heckler’s veto whereby just because they are inclined towards violence the party sending the message must cease and desist. Much like the 9^th circus of appeals in their upholding of a lower court’s validation of a California school banning the wear of shirts with the American flag on school grounds because Mexican students threatened violence against them. The left is only interested in their views and how you must accept them. There are no lengths they will not go to in an attempt to end rational discourse. But maybe if this college student was taking some actual classes instead of majoring in crap he would end up reading Epictetus, who wrote,

“Some things are up to us and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions–in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices, or, that is, whatever is not our own doing.

In the first place, do not allow yourself to be carried away by [the] intensity [of your impression]: but say, ‘Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are, and what you represent. Let me test you.’ Then, afterwards, do not allow it to draw you on by picturing what may come next, for if you do, it will lead you wherever it pleases. But rather, you should introduce some fair and noble impression to replace it, and banish this base and sordid one.

Remember that foul words or blows in themselves are no outrage, but your judgment that they are so. So when any one makes you angry, know that it is your own thought that has angered you. Wherefore make it your endeavor not to let your impressions carry you away. For if once you gain time and delay, you will find it easier to control yourself.

Make it your study then to confront every harsh impression with the words, ‘You are but an impression, and not at all what you seem to be’. Then test it by those rules that you possess; and first by this–the chief test of all–’Is it concerned with what is in our power or with what is not in our power?’ And if it is concerned with what is not in our power, be ready with the answer that it is nothing to you.”

Pretty sound reasoning for a guy who has been dead for near to two millennia, the left would have shut him up as well.