cgmazuch

"ignorance is bliss"

jX

The factor is as long as the Government allows these actions to repeat itself, then the problem will always exist.

TheGodlessHeathen

Yes, it has to be allowed if we all want freedom of speech, BUT, these people are despicable and should be treated as such, then maybe they'll understand why discrimination is such a terrible thing. Those people are cowards and I bet they don't have the cojones to do that in Harlem.

Pinkstar

I can't believe what has been going on in your own country. Even we here, a 24 hour plane ride away in Australia know that racism is rife in parts of the US. I agree with you it is disgusting and inciting hate and although I know that 'freedom of speech' is important to a democratic soicety I believe it should be restricted if it is inciting hate against others. In New Zealand laws such as these have been introduced - religious programs aren't even allowed to play in the morning because of how the degrade gays. If you want an even truer picture of the hate that is in your country look at www.godhatesamerica.com - these people are absolutely insane and disgusting. It needs to be stopped. I just feel sorry for you that you live in a country where this is accepted by the majority of the population. All you can do is hope for change and the dream of equality for all.

beetrootyourself

The USA freedom of speech is a myth, what you can say and also broadcast in public is rigorously dictated, unlike in the UK or Australia (to name but two) where you can say what you want (particularly on TV). That's the first point. The second point is, if a paedophile held up a sign saying "I find children sexually attractive" that would be seen as wholly unacceptable regardless of freedom of speech, he/she would be removed from the street immediately for their own safety and to protect the innocent public. Your freedom of speech is turned 'on' and turned 'off' when it suits. Racism and indeed homophobia are criminal offences in the UK, this is not to stop people from speaking their minds, they can do that in a non-offensive way whenever they please, it is to protect people from ridicule, oppression and inequality. Every forward-thinking country from Finland to Fiji does not accept public racism or discrimination, whether it's falsely disguised as a freedom or not.

SUZEH

Freedom of speech is a basic freedom in the US. Unfortunately, our forefathers did not discriminate against the truly stupid. To hear the voice of the prophets in this world you've got to filter out the voice of the poppets.

gruvygirl_123

u know what u do?u walk by those ignorant,pitiful people with ur head held high and smile at them ...they wont know what 2 do...never be ashamed or scared..thats what they want...be tall and b proud...

Justice

If you know Obama, ask him to go talk to them. That might shut them up.

dreamchaser8860

This is just the "down side" of living in a democratic society where we do have the freedom to speak our minds. When hawkish-minded politicos and their followers make grandiose statements about our soldiers dying in Iraq to preserve our freedoms, they blissfully neglect to mention those freedoms include the right to have people like Britney, Lindsay and Paris to act like idiotic skanks; the right to start a cult where you can marry your wife, her daughter and her daughter's daughter, and the right to wave signs around in public and scream nasty slogans like "GOD HATES F@GS!" if you want. Sadly, in so many cases, ignorance and stupidity isn't considered illegal, just immoral.

drcarstairs

First, I must ask where was this? What city, start, or region? I would like to know what place to add to my list of don’t want to visit list.Okay, as for legality – freedom of speech covers it all. By definition, popular and polite speech needs no protection; it’s the vile, reprehensible, and provocative speech that requires protection. And yes, this kind of speech must be allowed, or else we do not have the freedom to speak. If speech is limited, someone has to make that decision; whom do you trust to do that? If you suppress this kind of speech, it goes underground and festers. Let people show their ignorance and evil in the full light of day! That way they self-identify themselves as people we should keep an eye on (freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences, just government censure). The state cannot prosecute them for a crime, but We the People can treat them with the distain they have earned. If I recognized someone I knew holding such a sign I would (at minimum) have nothing more to do with them. I do not have room in my life for someone with that kind of hatred or ignorance. If they worked for me I would find a way to dismiss them – I would not want my business associated with them or their beliefs. There is no ‘Right to not be offended’. If you expect to go through life without being offended you are going to be disappointed. And don’t expect someone else (i.e., the government) to protect you from it. The best way’s to deal with this kind of thing publically is to ignore it (they want the attention. If they don’t get evil glares and press coverage they will eventually get bored and go away) or ridicule it humorously. They desire confrontation, it makes them feel vindicated. Okay, sometimes a good counter demonstration is fun, but make sure you are safe in case they act violently (and the stupid and the evil do tend to fall back on violence – it’s easy)Be Well.