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© 2019 AFPHong Kong unveils law banning insults to Chinese national anthem
By Anthony WALLACE HONG KONG©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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© 2019 AFP
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theFu
Yes. Unpopular speech deserves protection just as much as popular speech. Nothing should be off the table when it comes to freedom of speech when discussed calmly, between adults.
If you say something offensive, stupid, racist, anti-whale, anti-religion, anti-non-religion or anti-puppy and your employer/spouse/church/team doesn't like it, that is completely different. Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from all repercussions, just freedom from govt lead repercussions.
This is where China is wrong, IMO. People in Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan understand how important free speech is. Lots of countries have legal restrictions on certain types of speech and seem to get along fine - Singapore, Thailand, India, and pretty much every Islamic-majority country.
lostrune2
It is not illegal
Strangerland
Bingo.
theFu
Showing disrespect for a flag or anthem is part of freedom of speech. Exactly how strong is your country if you cannot allow that and other unpopular speech.
Saying unpopular things does have repercussions, but those should never come from the govt, with guns or violence or threat of jail.
Chucky138
It is ok to sing profanity at your country national anthem?
I dislike our PM ( Canada ), but I do not rage or disrespect my country National Anthem.
If you are still in services you stand up and salute for the rest of us civil just stand up or you can put your right arm across your chest while the Flag is raise and anthem being sung.
Chucky138
a cannot force people to respect a flag or anthem - that respect must be earned. Ya cannot force people's hearts how to feel
UlsterBoy
As soon as the National Anthem plays do you have to stop, stand to attention and Salute ?
kazetsukai
There goes the "freedom of speech and expression". They had already lost the free press...
Now what..?
It appears that the "desired" results allows "any" means to achieve it. (It is written in the Communist textbook / manifesto.)
lostrune2
Ya cannot force people to respect a flag or anthem - that respect must be earned. Ya cannot force people's hearts how to feel
And what happens when 50% of the people like a flag/anthem, but the other 50% do not - are ya gonna punish half the people, or change the flag/anthem or not have one at all and thus piss off the half of the population who likes it?
There will always be people who won't like a flag/anthem for one reason or another. If most don't like it, they should be able to vote to change it to something that most approve of (including having none at all). But ya will never have 100% complete approval - ya just gonna have to live with that situation
Scrote
Another freedom lost to the unelected dictators.
Chucky138
What the hell, the reply disappear?
My reply was , Why have a National Anthem or Flag if you can not even respect your country flag and anthem.
Flag and Anthem have nothing to do with freedom of speech by the people or the government.
If you do not respect your own country flag or anthem, do differential freedom of speech and anthem please.
Chucky138
Freedom of speech is a very important right for all free people. From it, comes all other rights, since if you cannot speak out against others, including the govt, then you have no rights at all.
theFu
Freedom of speech is a very important right for all free people. From it, comes all other rights, since if you cannot speak out against others, including the govt, then you have no rights at all.