One of the pop topics of the day is about this loudmouth kid who got what he deserved (50,000 volts) at a Univ of Florida forum where he seriously violated the rights of others in the audience.
Strange as it seems, a group of students actually showed up to hear what Sen John Kerry had to say. They had the right to be able to hear the speaker, and to hear an orderly set of questions (even though the answers would probably be vague and confusing). As a resident of Mass, I am annoyed that the Senator was not at the work that he gets paid to do - but that is another issue.
I hear some morons talk about the rights of free speech, as if that mean't that we all have the right to say anything - anytime we choose. No one has the "right" to inflict their opinions on an unwilling audience. The right of free speech protects the writer or speaker from being put in jail for expressing unpopular ideas - so long as those ideas are expressed in a way that does not infringe on the rights of others to peace, privacy and freedom from assault.
You cannot freely express your ideas by spraypainting them on walls of public buildings, or by driving through the streets with a loudspeaker truck. I would extend this prohibition to anyone who disturbs the peace of a public gathering by hectoring a speaker.
Bogarting the mike in a public forum, using profanity and generally disturbing the peace is not protected behavior and should be met with rapid, painful and yes - even shocking attenuation.
Let the word go forth to those who think their issue is more important than your issue - "You will get tasered, bro!"
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