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To: Ghulam Muhammad, Mumbai

Reader comment on item: Speaker Shouted Down at U.C.-Irvine
in response to reader comment: Protestors cannot be faulted for their legitimate right to protest

Submitted by B Kettelle (United States), Mar 12, 2007 at 09:08

Dear Sir-

Laws are written here, in America, to benefit the many. True, each person also benefits when laws are fairly written and equitably applied. But "equitably" is not the same as equally.

If I live by myself, in a remote cabin, I can probably play my sound equipment as loudly as I wish. If I live in an apartment complex, I cannot, as I would be disturbing the peace of others. In no way does this violate my individual rights. In every way it protects my rights and the rights of all.

I have the right to protest, but not to shout others down. I may write in protest, but I may not write slanderously. I may criticize, but I may not falsely accuse. Laws protect and extend our rights in America. But no single law may be seized upon and abused by one, or a few, to violate the rights of others, including the right to assemble.

Those who disrupted Mr Pipes' speech had disruption as their goal. They would prevent others from assembling to hear Mr Pipes by assembling to shout him down. They could have assembled as a group outside and made their points with their own speeches and comments. But making their points was not their real goal.

Another commenter wrote that these kinds of disruptions will continue, and even proliferate...and that we had better get used to it. Those who would violate the rights of others had also better get used to being restricted, removed...perhaps even arrested, fined or jailed...when they break the law in this way. Those methods may be acceptable elsewhere, but not in America.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (48) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Please read and see the video below [135 words]Please readFeb 17, 2010 11:57169057
gratitude [123 words]jennifer solisAug 26, 2007 03:34106989
Anti-Semitism in America and Our Universities [1540 words]gary fouseJul 28, 2007 02:52105019
Disruptions on College Campuses [187 words]Bob JackFeb 13, 2007 17:2377063
It's Their Right [253 words]Debby MayerFeb 13, 2007 16:0277050
Possible responses [76 words]abraham irwinFeb 13, 2007 13:5777037
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION [39 words]HATITTIFeb 12, 2007 18:0876942
Freedom of Speech is not Freedom to Prevent Speech [335 words]G WoodworthFeb 13, 2007 02:3976942
In support of your position [97 words]Bob JackFeb 14, 2007 08:5676942
Whose "freedom of speech"? [478 words]G.WoodworthFeb 12, 2007 09:3476887
Righteous indignation... [275 words]donvanFeb 13, 2007 15:3976887
I'm depressed [109 words]concernedFeb 10, 2007 13:0076721
Don't let the knockers convince you [150 words]RPaineFeb 13, 2007 12:1476721
re: RPaine [263 words]concernedFeb 14, 2007 11:0076721
dumb stupid/stupid dumb [150 words]dfwhite19438Feb 9, 2007 18:1576654
Saudi money plays an ugly role in Western countires [187 words]joesephFeb 15, 2007 17:3176654
UC-Irvine [39 words]GumboFeb 9, 2007 11:4076640
speaker shouted down at uci [129 words]rafi maromFeb 9, 2007 09:4376634
Protestors cannot be faulted for their legitimate right to protest [397 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Ghulam Muhammed, MumbaiFeb 9, 2007 06:2176621
To: Ghulam Muhammad, Mumbai [273 words]B KettelleMar 12, 2007 09:0876621
The University Failed; Hannity & Colmes Obfuscate the Issue [139 words]Nathan RosenblattFeb 8, 2007 18:1176592
Disruption [171 words]Ernie LofthouseFeb 8, 2007 12:1076557
Anti Opression ? [115 words]abdul khanFeb 8, 2007 11:4976552
Dr. Pipes where where the moderates that you claim exist. Where they there? If not, why not? [65 words]gellin&infidellinFeb 8, 2007 11:0976550
"VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS" [154 words]Edgar Malcolm ErvinFeb 8, 2007 10:4876548
eye opening [66 words]DarrenFeb 8, 2007 08:3076540
slippery slope [46 words]robert aFeb 8, 2007 04:4676519
Disturbance at the Irvine Campus meeting [227 words]FaqiFeb 8, 2007 03:3576511
Objective vs. Subjective [82 words]David W. LincolnFeb 8, 2007 00:0876502
follow up on the event [289 words]HarrakFeb 7, 2007 23:3976498
False liberalism, Muslim incivility, and immoral faculty [366 words]Caesar M. ArevaloFeb 7, 2007 22:5976489
Clarity [173 words]Bill StoreyFeb 7, 2007 22:5876487
Surprise [119 words]Michael from CanadaFeb 9, 2007 11:5376487
Re:Bravo! Mr.Daniel Pipes, Don't mind these idiots and bullying babaric Islamists. [168 words]TTSFeb 7, 2007 22:4876486
Irvine [78 words]steven LFeb 7, 2007 22:2476482
No trust in Muslems [53 words]f.shaFeb 7, 2007 21:0776472
The Moslems want the people in the West to give the Jizya to them [47 words]f.shaFeb 19, 2007 21:5876472
El Azhar of Egypt decided the all non moslems deserve to be killed [56 words]f.shaFeb 19, 2007 22:1976472
Muslims are dangerous [21 words]MuslimApr 21, 2007 23:3976472
Great Interview w/Hannity & Colmes! [310 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Reut CohenFeb 7, 2007 17:0476426
wash my hands [61 words]andre cassanoFeb 7, 2007 19:5576426
Speaker shouted down at UC Irvine [49 words]faqiFeb 8, 2007 03:4876426
1"les chiens aboient, la caravane passe" [106 words]HarrakFeb 7, 2007 16:5876424
Pipes at Irvine [114 words]steven LFeb 7, 2007 22:4276424
Depression pills [180 words]HarrakFeb 10, 2007 20:5876424
Absurdities [95 words]Harry RogersFeb 7, 2007 16:2676418
Saudi Influrence In Our Colleges. [186 words]clarence puckettFeb 7, 2007 23:2876418
Bullying Tactics [52 words]Philip W. ChapmanFeb 7, 2007 16:0576413

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