Does Free Speech Really Have No Consequences?

Politics US Politics
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For those who truly believe “freedom of speech means no consequences,” I have a challenge for you.

When the Democrats are back in power, make a series of public social media posts loudly supporting Nazis.
(Obviously, you’re not actually a Nazi, it’s just an experiment)

Get a swastika tattoo somewhere easily visible.
(A fake tattoo is fine. Again, you are just doing an experiment.)

!!!BONUS POINTS IF YOU ARE IN THE U.S. AS A FOREIGNER WITH A GREEN CARD OR A STUDENT VISA!!!

Then:

  • Apply for a government job.
  • Volunteer at a public school or public library.
  • Walk into a police station and try to file a report.
  • Apply for a visa or citizenship abroad.
  • Run for any kind of public office.
  • Try to rent a public hall for an event.

Remember, at all times: tell people openly you support Nazi ideology.

Can you guess what would happen?

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution only protects you from criminal punishment by the government for speaking.
It does NOT guarantee you a job, a visa, a reputation, or a platform.
It does NOT protect you from losing your green card, being deported, being fired, or being socially rejected.

This is why green card holders and visa holders can and do get deported for extremist speech or supporting terrorist groups.

The U.S. deporting foreign nationals for supporting Hamas is no different than Taiwan deporting Chinese citizens who advocate for an armed invasion of Taiwan.
It’s the same basic principle everywhere:

If you invite someone into your country, you also have every right to kick them out if their character or actions don’t meet the standards expected of guests.
Being allowed to stay is a conditional privilege, not a right.

Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from the real-world consequences.

Disclaimer:
This challenge is purely hypothetical and intended to illustrate a point about the real-world consequences of public speech.
If you choose to participate, you do so entirely at your own risk.
I take no responsibility for any consequences, legal or otherwise, that may result from your “free speech.”

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Sir, this is a Wendy’s.

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Does anyone think freedom of speech doesn’t have naunce? There are reasons to allow and dissalow. Public discourse (freedom of speech) is actually being able to discuss whether a certain thing should be allowed or not. Ie. Harassment, threats etc.

I have swastikas all over my home. I don’t mind. Some people think I have them backwards though, what’s up with that?

I do have some legit nazi ones though, oulled off of bodies from my grandfather’s. Those aren’t on display, for obvious reasons. Intent is everything.

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Legally, should be just wrong.

Lawful foreign nationals enjoy the same rights as American citizens, minus those of voting privilege.

Supreme court’d​:dashing_away::dashing_away::dashing_away:

So, wrong. In exercising free speech on the topic of say, Gaza, that is not a criminal offence. Obviously it’d be in their best interest not to say anything that could be construed as supporting Gaza…

But if some Puritan, partisan fool is the judge of it, even saying Israel is doing something bad might constitute grounds for deportation.

Of course, the ilk of nativist who would want to deport lawful, educated foreign residents for political activity does have an ally if precedence on his side!

McCarthyism! Remember that famous era of wonderful free speech and expression?

This one allows deportation for what would be in their time essentially anti-American (anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, etc) activities. Good that we had a chance to pull this out.

Not like we didn’t give china it’s star rocket scientist on these grounds, among many other foreign experts.

It’s an awful precedent and is really just bad for the US.

Not that that matters to you :winking_face_with_tongue:

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Correction: Lawful foreign nationals enjoy the same rights as American citizens, minus those of voting privilege and minus guaranteed rights to remain or enter.