It's The 1st Amendment, NOT The 1st Suggestion!

Slate doesn't seem too excited about Justice Breyer's remarks on the 1st Amendment, in light of the Quran-burning incident.  What Breyer does say concerns me:

you can say—with the Internet, you can say this. … Holmes said it doesn't mean you can shout "fire" in a crowded theater. Well, what is it? Why? Because people will be trampled to death. And what is the crowded theater today? What is the being trampled to death? … It will be answered over time in a series of cases which force people to think carefully.

So, apparently, unlike the relatively natural reaction to hearing the word "fire", a decidedly UNNATURAL action, like murdering Christians, may lead to inhibited speech.

At least, when it offends the easily-offended Muslim population.

UPDATE:  Upon re-reading the Slate post, it's clear that they disapprove of any restriction on the 1st Amendment - what I wrote previously seems to suggest the opposite.

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Fighting Words

I found this YouTube video, which takes the song "Fighting Words" by Trace Adkins, and puts it to pictures of soldiers. I don't normally listen to country music, but I enjoyed this .

I especially liked the ending, where Trace says:

Son, the 1st Amendment protects you from the government, not from me

That's a fact about the Constitution that many have forgotten. If the owner of a media outlet declines to let you spew your drivel on HIS dime, you lose. You can't compel a private entity to let you "express yourself".

Similarly, the government can't force you to shut up. However, the average citizen doesn't have to listen to you, respect you, or endure your theatrical posings.

We have the right to walk away, thinking you a fool. We even have the right to use OUR 1st Amendment rights to call you a fool.