4 ms·
> But it would be meaningless words on paper if our society didn't generally tolerate and respect the idea Yes, but the idea is that the government shouldn't b
by Rapzid 8y ago
> But it would be meaningless words on paper if our society didn't generally tolerate and respect the idea
Yes, but the idea is that the government shouldn't be able to suppress the spread of information and ideas, or persecute on the basis of ideas. It would only be meaningless words on paper if the courts didn't uphold the rule of law, and the First Amendment specifically, and the executive didn't enforce it..
- chrisco255 8y agoNot if we had a culture that didn't condone it. There's the law and then there's cultural values. And the purpose of freedom of speech is to recognize that a healthy marketplace of ideas and debate is good for our society. That's a cultural value as much as it's a legal value.