Originally posted by localyokel
It is a personal view. If he had said something like 'Localyokel is a ****wit and a war monger' then I would have a problem with it, but it doesnt. It is Murph's personal opinion and as such it is not a political opinion.
Please stop telling no-one is trying to impinge on someone's right to free speech. I am not an idiot and I can see differently.
Isn't his hypothetical slurring of you just a personal opinion as well? Wouldn't it be impinging on his right to stop him saying you are a ****wit in the same way you claim stopping the 'no war' statement would be. Or is it just about how much you like what is being said? Being a personal opinion has nothing to do with whether or not it is poilitical as far as i can see, however, whether or not the slogan is political is not important to the issue.
All you have done is say that it would be impinging on his right to free speech. Others have argued it is the footy club's merchandise therefore it is their forum to send what messages they choose, not that of Robert Murphy. What we are saying is that "freedom of speech" and taking advantage of our clubs merchandise to send ones own personal message are not the same thing. You have not even tried to make any argument against this, you just say "it's his right to free speech...that its on bulldog merchandice is a moot point...etc" If you are not an idiot, you should just make your argument as to why Murphy's right to freedom of speech on this occasion should overide the clubs right to control there own merchandise(should all employees have this right to put their own messages on their companies merchandise?), rather than stating your opinion as if it were fact, cos any fool can do that.
If it is impinging on his rights for the doggies to control what goes on their own merchandise, how can we even justify making them wear their footy gear for the photo? What if Browny already had an arrangement to go to Essendon, and decided to write "go bombers" on his arm, or for that matter, throw on an essendon jumper...would it be impinging on his freedom of speech to stop him doing that? Would you defend his right to wear bombers gear in our team photo to the death local? After all, he is just expressing his opinion. You never told me if you'd be happy for that greens poster to go in the background either...??? Dop you see what i am getting at here?
You say you draw the line of protecting freedom of speech at swearing and abuse...this thread has both those things, but you haven't closed it down. Seems where you like to draw the line is a little more fuzzy than you would like to believe.
If you think you can consistently hold the views you have stated here, good on you, but it is impossible imo, and you have made no argument to suggest otherwise.
I think the most important thing for everyone to keep in mind is that everyone's views on this are not so far a part. There are certain things nobody would like our club merchandise to be used for. Some of us believe this years poster is a mild version of something that has rather more extreme possibilites. Nothin more and mothing less. We don't (this i am certain goes for everyone concerned) have a particluar problem with the message itself, but fear that allowing this one opens the door for those more extreme possibilites.
It has been said this type of discussion can be devisive, but imo that is the case in any discussion when people resort to attacking the personalities involved, rather than just analysing the arguments people make to support their claims. It is very disappointing the number of negative references that can be found to Chicago's nationality, in place of actually analysing the validity of his point of view.