How to help stroke patients with speech?

Why are there double standards when it comes to free speech? Are these double standards, or rights?

• http://www.onthemedia.org/2012/feb/10/defending-first-amendment-right-profanity/transcript/ If the link above works it leads to the transcript of a radio program I heard on a recent Sunday. The discussion was the use of the "F" word. Is it free speech? At one point it was mentioned that a person has a right to just walk up to a police officer and say "F--k you" and that the police officer cannot legally do anything. There is no law against saying "F--k you" to anyone. Just because it is offensive does not mean it is not free speech; and it is legally-protected speech, and constitutionally-protected speech. Or that is what a lot of people would claim. What came to my mind was the recent incident in New York City in which some police were driving around in a police car which had the head of a black doll on the antenna. Assuming that the incident happened and the police intended to make this statement against people of certain races, isn't this also a case of protected "speech"? Now free speech does not have to be in form of words. It could be gestures, images, etc. I have seen trucks ( in NYC) which have photos or drawings of scantily clad women on them promoting whiskey. I once saw a stereotypical Hell's Angel type of motorcyclist driving around on his "bike" whom had a sign on the back of his bike saying "NO FAT BITCHES" ( referring to women). Nothing is done about the trucks with photos of nearly naked women on them. Nothing I guess was done about the motorcyclist. It is free speech or freedom of expression. It does not matter if it is offensive to anyone. Why then weren't police allowed to drive around with a black doll's head on their car antenna? I know that anyone can say that when a person is on the job s/he must be professional and not bring any personal feelings to his/her occupation. But I have heard some arguments which state that being on the job should not mean that a person cannot practice his freedom of speech. Once a school bus driver told the kids in her bus to tell their parents to support stem cell research. Some people argued that it is freedom of speech that is protected even while a person is on the job . Some said personal politics should not be brought to one's workplace. It sidetracks professionalism. If a male doctor wanted to show pornagraphic magazines to his female patients would that be his right to express himself even if offends others, or inappropriate in the workplace or is it sexual harassment? If a white hematologist who has black patients with sicle cell anemia hangs black dolls in his exam room is that his right to free speech even if on the job? If a rock star stages an entire performance on the Grammy Awards criticizing the Catholic Church is that free speech? If a politician publically says that he cant help but worry when he sees Muslim people on the same airplane he is in, is that free speech? So called "hate speech" is also speech right? If speech is within an act of harassment and an act of threatening others, it is still speech right? Why are some people given the right to complete free speech and not others? It seems to matter whom or what you are making a contraversial or offensive statement about, or toward. It does not seem to be about protecting speech but giving certain people leeway and not others. What applies where? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/nyregion/15doll.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/nyregion/26harlem.html?pagewanted=all http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=6282848

• Answer:

  I didn't bother reading your whole rant. I also didn't open any of your links, because I don't want to be rickrolled. However, free speech generally is unlimited with narrow exceptions like yelling 'fire' in a theater. - Stuart