We fought a war over that principle 150 years ago, and we should be ready and willing to do so again if need be.

Funny how the last time we had a war on this issue at that time it was the dems were the ones that wanted to choose who received constitutional rights and who didn't. Some things never change.

Terry Jones is a jerk of the first order but I appreciate the service he is doing this country by demonstrating exactly where the left stands on the constitution. Rights are for who they decide and are subject to the delicate feelings of whatever victimology group they wish to trot out to suppress the rights of others.

Nazis marching in Skokie Illinois. Same thing.

If you're going to yell idiotically about Muslims on the public street in front of a major Muslim community center/mosque, you're kind of an asshole. But assholishness is impliedly protected under the First Amendment.

The best possible thing that could have happened would have been to allow Jones to demonstrate and the Muslims in Dearborn to just ignore him. But "Turn The Other Cheek" isn't really principle of Islam.

Instead the government intervened to restrain Jones from exercising his right to be an ass in the name of protecting the frail sensibilities of the Religion of the Perpetually Insulted and Outraged.

A nice case of government prior restraint of one citizen's rights in the name of assuaging and favoring a religion.

I don't recall a formal repeal of the First Amendment, but this looks a lot like a de facto repeal to me.

I hope Jones cleans up in a lawsuit. Arresting him was a disgrace.

Detroit doesn't have to worry about being sued. They don't have any money.

I just got back from the town's Easter Egg Hunt and found this thread. By the way, I did very well at the Easter Egg Hunt, but then I use a scoped .223 so that I don't have to risk getting too close to those eggs.

"This is utterly intolerable. This is totally unacceptable."

This is today's liberalism, run amok.

"No portion of the nation can declare itself -- even quietly and unofficially -- to be exempt..."

I fear we may have incrementally lost that battle already. We failed to secure our borders, we allowed cities to declare themselves to be (and act) as sanctuary cities. I could make the list longer, but it's depressing.

Time to make preparations for our Easter meal. I got the bunny, too.

One things for sure: The judge in this case should be impeached and then disbarred. If he cannot understand the foundational laws of this nation he should not be allowed such a position of authority.

They did it the wrong way.
Growing up on the 80's. It was ok to burn the American Flag in protest.
It was art to put a cross in urine.

The Christians need to sing as they hand out the tracts call it street theater.
Rev Jones need a grant from the NEA. To burn the Quarn then it all ok.

Nazis marching in Skokie Illinois. Same thing.

Illinois Nazis. I hate Illinois Nazis.

Jones is basically doing the same thing Larry Flint did back in the day, testing the 1st amendment. Both of these individuals are repulsive, but isn't that the point of the 1st amendment, no need to protect popular speech.

It seems Detriot has failed the test.

Ignoring the man who wants to make a huge point, he still makes a huge point. Tolerance always ends up this way. We demand tolerance for those with no tolerance, and once we have conceded, this occurs.

Where is the ACLU? Didn't the Supreme Court recently find that it was okay for the Westboro Baptist Church to protest at the funerals of slain military repulsive as that is? How is this any different?
This pisses me off almost as much as the mohammed cartoon controversy where newspapers refused to print them and so painted a target on the backs of publications and people who did.We have become a nation of cowards refusing to stand up for our principles here at home while sending our troops overseas to die for them.

"This is utterly intolerable. This is totally unacceptable."

Agreed.

Will anything be done to stop it? No.

Where is the ACLU?

Good question, Sharon.

I believe the answer is that they're backing Jones here.

So, for once, they're on the right side.

J.

Less Larry Flint and more John Brown, engaging in despicable acts (in Brown's case acts of violence) and raising the nation's awareness of the danger to our freedoms. Heck, remove that stupid mustache and he even looks a bit like John Brown. Must be something about crazy that makes people look like that.

And unless I miss my guess I expect that Terry Jones will not let this lie and he will push the issue himself. It won't be a question of stopping it. He will force them to put him in jail. As objectionable as he is he will bring to the fore the issue of giving muslims special rights over the rest of us.

It's time to end this BS about having a right to not be offended.

"Terry Jones wanted to hold an event in Detroit, near one of the largest mosques. He applied for a permit, and it was denied. Not because officials feared he would break some law or in some way engage in violence, but because his mere peaceful presence would provoke violence against him."

So he was arrested and convicted for something he MIGHT do? Using that reasoning, I'd suspect that there are a lot of people in Detroit who could be incarcerated on that premise.

So if it's OK to set up a little Muslim enclave in Dearborn and pressure local politicians into setting aside the First Amendement how about the rest of us doing the same thing the other way around. In oh say Texas. And hanging anyone who suggests stifling free speech.

Its not a big stretch for MI courts to go all raghead. Think of the racially toned Detroit/Flint corruption that succeeded the union corruption. The UP is the only safe haven for constitutionalists.

This boggles my simple mind. Compare this to what happens outside of temple square in Salt Lake City during the LDS semi-annual conferences. Rabid anti-mormons are out there handing out literature and generally bugging people trying to go about their business but it's their right. What's up Michigan?

So he was arrested and convicted for something he MIGHT do?

No it's better than that. He was arrested for what someone might do to him. Want to do something that might offend a muslim? No rights for you!

"One things for sure: The judge in this case should be impeached and then disbarred. If he cannot understand the foundational laws of this nation he should not be allowed such a position of authority."

Ditto for Barry!

Where is the ACLU?

They filed an amicus brief on Jones' behalf.

Maybe the next big Tea Party rally should be in Dearborn. Again, I don't agree with Jones and he is an asshole but:

They came for the assholes and I did nothing because I wasn't an asshole...

To Upset Old Guy: What .223 are you using? I got a Ranch Rifle .223 for Christmas. Stocking stuffers: 2 cases of ammo and 4 extra clips. I guess I missed Easter Egg Hunt season....

African Americans have to tolerate the KKK marching, that's ok, Jews have to tolerate demonstrations by Nazis that's ok but this is not ok? Minorities in this country especially African Amreicans have worked dilegently within the system to effect dramitic change, this is a complete utter insult to them.

"...where the mayor decided that it was so offensive to the Muslims in his community that it rose to the level of breaking the law."

You mean it rose to the level of endangering the vote for him to get back in office.

Mayor Mc Cheese should be instantly arrested and sent to gitmo.

This can't be posted enough:

Female Protester Disrupts Muslim Radicals Rallying in Frankfurt, Germany
http://tinyurl.com/3ezwtwa

This American patriot (video) has got it "spot on"! (strong language.......but correct in its contents and meaning):

http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/black-american-patriot-discusses-muslims-warning-grpahic-language/

"So he was arrested and convicted for something he MIGHT do? Using that reasoning, I'd suspect that there are a lot of people in Detroit who could be incarcerated on that premise."

No, he was arrested and convicted for something the koranimals might do. Jones should sue.
And when he does exercise his rights and the koranimals start a violent, bloody riot (the only thing they are good at) they should be shot in the head like the rabid animals they are. Clear the koranimals out of this country and quit letting them in. They will never evolve.

Don't forget the continuing harassment outside Catholic churches (notably St. Patrick's in NYC) by groups like ACT UP who've been involved in outrageous behavior since the 1980s, right up to and including disrupting Mass inside the cathedral itself.

I guess the new liberal standard for first amendment rights is that if enough people threaten violence against you for exercising free speech, you lose your constitutional rights.