Liability
Locked Account.
What Great Britain did is emblematic of their different notions of free speech. I think many of us Americans view that incident with a bit of discomfort because we have a First Amendment. We have traditionally placed a much higher value on the idea of unfettered speech. We tend to view the derisive racist words and actions of that asshole as something that can be justifiably derided and put down and rebutted and refuted in "the free market place of ideas." We tend to be aghast at the idea that a government can resort to the force of law to silence an idea, no matter how stupid or ugly that idea might be.
Great Britain doesn't see things our way.
I think we bring some problems down on our own heads because of our notions. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
And I believe Great Britain would benefit from emulating OUR notions in that regard.
I'm pretty confident, though, that for the most part, nobody in Great Britain gives a shit about my advice.
You'd be quite wrong in that regard. Confirmation of this can be found on most comment pages of all the broadsheets covering the ejection of the Lithuanian fan and the two Olympians Papachristou and Drygalla. Indeed, the Telegraph's comment section crashed six times last night after reporting on the utterly unfair removal of the German rower because her boyfriend (her boyfriend, not her) has been linked to a far-right group in Germany. Even the traditionally lefty Guardian readers slammed the German team's decision to remove Drygalla after the IOC leaned on them. Her removal at the behest of the IOC is irredeemably spiteful and unfair. Though it comes as no surprise seeing as this Olympics has been completely hijacked by the PC brigade and UN, the latter of which enjoyed an uncormfortable presence at the opening ceremony.
At the risk of being serious for a second longer, I find your post encouraging.
That said, I still believe that the Brits have a different notion of what "free speech" is intended to cover.
Hell, for that matter, my own understanding of the First Amendment is different than that of many other dedicated American Constitutional loyalists.