@msolga,
msolga wrote:I find myself worrying for vulnerable minorities in a situation where it sounds like anyone can say pretty much whatever they choose with total immunity.
Not total impunity. US constitutional caselaw draws q line between expressing your religious opinion and intimidating people. In particular, in the case of
Virginia v. Black, the Supreme Court held that states may prohibit the burning of crosses with the intent to intimidate. Background: If you lived in the American South 50 years ago, and you looked out your window, the last thing you wanted to see was a burning cross in your front yard. It meant that you were next on the Ku Klux Klan's list for a severe beating, perhaps even a killing. To criminalize such intimidation is consistent with the freedom of speech.
In my opinion, this is a sensible place to draw the line. Although I differ with Pastor Jones on matters of style, I agree with him that the Quran is a piece of fiction, and that it's full of vile, inhumane nonsense. (Unlike Jones, I think the same of the Bible.) It strikes me as eminently reasonable that I should have a right to express this opinion, in robust terms if necessary, even though I
don't have the right to threaten or intimidate Muslims or Christians.
