08-05-2016, 05:55 PM
(08-05-2016, 02:22 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: Let's not forget that in Germany you can, and are, arrested for saying things that are absolutely protected by the 1st amendment in this country. Merkel just recently sold a German citizen who made fun or Erdogan. We believe far more in personal liberty in the United States than Germany does or ever has. With personal liberty comes an increase in personal responsibility, at least until recently, which contributes directly to the "They did it, F'em" attitude that the author mentions. The United States has a democratic tradition, implemented by choice, spanning almost two and a half centuries. Germany had a democratic system forced on them at the end of a severe beat down around seventy years ago. This is yet another factor that directly contributes to the above differences.
Yup. And in truth many of the restrictions on speech were actually put in place by the allies (U.S., U.K., and France) in order to prevent the Nazi party from gaining more traction. Hate speech, and through it anything Nazi-ish, is illegal. It's why any hint of nationalism is taboo over there. You don't see citizens flying their flag unless the Euro or World Cup is going on. Their culture is so colored by the post-WWII environment and it's something a lot of people don't know about.
"A great democracy has got to be progressive, or it will soon cease to be either great or a democracy..." - TR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." - FDR
