Thread: go to prison for insulting someone?

Originally Posted by mhailey

Very interesting to hear the European view point. I'm very refreashed by this. I alway thought that most Europeans looked down on Americans as those uncooth, uncivilized cowboys, with their guns, and their national pride.

Matt

Not really. I generally like Americans. I just don't like the way how US politics works. But that has little to do with how much I like the people as individuals.

I have faith in my country, and I believe in a higher deity.
But I also believe very firmly in the rightness of the secular state, and that religion has no place in government. No oath should have me say 'under God' because such an oath does not apply to all citizens.

Also, with regards to nationalism: the US has the advantage that it's basically a big island in the ocean, with only 2 countries adjacent, none of which represents any threat. So nationalism will not cause harmful conflict at the borders. There was Russia, but the hostile environment makes a border conflict unlikely. And both are nuclear powers, so there is a MAD standoff.

Europe has been a cauldron of countries, with different languages, ideals, and beliefs. We used to have fierce nationalism. It's what gave us about a 1000 years of semi continuous war, culminating in 2 world wars, which were fought in my backyard. I am glad we got rid of fierce nationalism in most countries.

If we are not going to wage war on each other anymore, we might as well talk to each other and find common ground. To date we haven't had an internal war for 64 years. That is an all time record. So yes, we talk, and compromise, and talk, and compromise some more. But history shows us that so far, it's the only system that actually works over here.

So we have no absolute freedom of speech. Our judicial systems are different. Over here, if something is not forbidden, it is allowed. 'Hate speech' is banned, because it generates unrest and conflict.
I understand that it seems strange to someone who believes in absolute freedoms. But it works for us. We have to compromise. We know what happens if we don't. We found out the hard way, and we didn't like it.

EDIT: sorry I hope this explanation is coherent. It's almost 1 AM, I am tired and I have to go to bed.