http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4710508.stm

- Interesting.

At the heart of the matter is whether the distortion of such a fundamental period of history is a greater problem than the suppression of the right to express contrary interpretations - however unpleasant, and indeed inaccurate, they may be.

Indeed. How do you measure freedom of speech (or interpretation?) against such a sensitive subject?
I find it hard, as a historian, to condone such action. Especially cold, hard prison time.

Any thoughts?

Laugh at the whackadoos when they spew their stupidity or burn your flag, don't jail them. It is much more enlightening to know what someone really thinks.

Thats a bit over the top...hell thought that stuff only happened in Evil America.

While I certainly don't agree with a 3 year jail term. We can't exactly tatoo "Fucking Retard" on his forehead. But then again Freedom of speech, means even the idiots get their say.

There has to be limits, i.e. You can't threaten to kill someone, and claim free speech, etc.

Wonder what would happen to the guy if he were an Arab, in the middle east and made a claim saying Mohammed never existed and islam is a sham.

The thin difference between lie and exageration? Diffamation and caricature?

Freedom of speech doesn't free from consequences of one' sayings.
If I were to claim someone's raped children, and keep on my version during the try, then be proven wrong, wouldn't I face consequences for my lies?

This should go over like a lead balloon with the muslim nations.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=389295

Here is another one for the "Right to free speach"

All I know is that if someone in my family died in Iraq or any other place of US interests and during their funeral these retards show..they will need a lot of protection.

Hey, Westboro is back in the news. If you ever needed evidence that real monsters exist in the world, we have those guys - they're the ones that picketed Mathew Shepard's funeral. Looks like those photos are long gone from their website, but you can browse more recent (and it looks like toned down) protests).

It's hard, allowing these idiots to spew their hate. You could almost argue some of it as a hate crime, but unless it's ever connected somehow to actions it's unlikely a group would ever have a ruling like that against them.
"In Germany and in Austria there is a moral obligation to fight the kind of propaganda peddled by Irving. We can't afford the luxury of the Anglo-Saxon freedom of speech argument in this regard," he says. "It's not that I don't understand it, it's just not for us. Not yet. Not for a long time." That's great, but who's going to decide when it IS time?

When the immediate children of people who survived WW2 are no longer in the power establishment you will probably see Europe relax away from the stringent attacks on anything potentially resembling anti-Semitism, so give it another 20 or 30 years. There was a great book on the subject of how people handle "touchy" history, making extensive refernce to a system of many early civilizations that considered people two different kinds of dead based on whether or not anyone alive directly knew them, wish I could remember what it was :>

Been following this guy for a couple years now. I agree that it's better to have him out in the open, showcase his arguments and then demonstrate why they are wrong. Sure, you risk having to put up with a bunch like the Phelps clan, but all in all freedom of speech is a good thing.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=389295


The upside of freedom of speech is that many other citizens despise Phelps, and aren't afraid to do something about it.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/21/funeral.motorcyclists.ap/index.html

Police at certain funerals picketed by the Phelps clan have done similar things, relegating their demonstration to areas shielded by police vehicles and men on horseback.

I forget who said this( I dont have time to look it up now) but this is one of my favorite quotes..

" I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Voltaire

In a manner of words.

And no, he's not Bush's PR man.

Its nice to see that people hate the Phelps clan as much as I do. Bunch of ingrates, the lot of them, saying our soldiers getting killed is some kind of divine act from God. Atheist though I may be, thats taking it too far when a family is grieving. I don't think I'd ever to be able to just stand by, I'd take immediate, decisive, and jailable action.

I find it most interesting that their church in Alabama has not been burned in this recent spate of church arsons.

Not that I am implicating them in any felonius behavior.

Freedom (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/18/AR2006021800554.html) of speech, indeed.

"Buy corpses" and "fetus soup"?!

Damn good thing I don't live in China. I'd get nothing done online!

I forget who said this( I dont have time to look it up now) but this is one of my favorite quotes..

" I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Voltaire said in his Essay on Tolerance: "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too."

The phrase "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" in the book The Friends of Voltaire.

German man jailed (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060223/wl_nm/crime_religion_germany_dc_2) for printing toilet paper with the word "Koran" on it.

"... the dark night of fascism is always descending on America, yet only lands in Europe."