jfaillo
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Freshman
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Freedom of speech - 2010/10/20 13:49
The topic I am refering to is freedom of speech as it was locked so I am making my reply and shed a little light on the subject as I have been the villan in such a case. ( Imagine That! ) LOL
As some of you might not know, I have been an entertainer as a professional musician and singer most of my life. I was performing in Helen, Georgia for 6 years. One day I had the city police in Helen to summan me to the city managers office in which I was informed I couldn't sing songs which had certain colorful words that were not originally written, but I wanted to add a little hell raisin life' into the atmosphere as you know how biker bars love hell raisin'.
The crowd loved it but passers by could hear and they complained to the city manager.
He told me I could no longer sing in that town as you had to buy a permit which the establishment provided for me every week to sing outside the on the deck. He said he would not issue me any such permits in the future which made it against the law for me to perform in Helen.
The establishment that I entertained for decided to challenge the city government in a state court and provided legal counsel for me at no cost.
When presented the case to the judge in White County
the city manager explained about the complaints and and how he refused permits for for me.
After hearing what the city manager said the judge askes where were the people who complained. After all I had a right to face my accusers. The city manager could not produce them or any of their name.
He also told the city manager even though he himself did not agree with the type of language I was using in my songs, that he (the judge) would have to hang up his robe and resign it he had passed judgement against me as I had a right to sing or say anything I wanted no matter who it offended. He also stated that if they persued this case it would possibly wind up in supreme court and they wouldn't win.
So he granted me the the right to sing in Helen and he also said the establishment did not have to purchase any permits anymore as long as I sang there then he dismissed the case in my favor of course.
So you see it's not a matter of whether I offend anyone outside the government or not. Free speech is free speech and cannot be infringed upon.
With that said, guidlines are an ownership issue. You cannot censor speech but you can enforce guidelines which a person agrees to in order to remain
affiliated with whatever organization issues it.
The speech is not censored, enforcing guidelines are implemented instead, and if you agree not to say certain things or discuss certain things you are bound by that agreement which is usually a qualification to be admiitted to such an organization or group or what ever. By not abidding by the rule you can be warned, repremanded or booted out which ever the administration decides to do in any organization, I'm not saying that Shamrock Reunions administrations will do this but in a legal matter it gives them the right to.
I hope I didn't offend anyone. If I did I'm terribly sorry. Now get over it. LOL John Faillo
john@politicalpill.net
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