Trump sends "Free Speech Squad" to UK.

I am not sure I really understand the meaning of freedom of speech. Does it only apply to people who share your opinions?

Can you really say anything you like, however disgusting, threatening, racist or sexist it is?

Should liberalism and wide cultural awareness be stamped out in universities in the name of freedom of speech?

Should certain books be banned or even burned?

Is writing on a public forum that it would be a good idea to set fire to hostels containing live people acceptable?

To say I am confused is an understatement.

How do you feel about Farage and Co going across the pond to tell the Yanks to vote for Trump?

Wrong to interfere with another country’s politics.
I still think that Obama’s coming to the U.K. to exhort us all to vote Remain, was very misguided. I dare say many who were going to vote remain anyway, thought he should have minded his own business.

And as for Labour (so I gather) sending a team across the pond to tell the Yanks not to vote for Trump, IMO it would have served them right if they’d been pelted with ordure.

I've been thinking about that too Dickens. Maybe Starmer should start treating Trump the way he treats others.

I do wonder if we shouldn't actually cut the diplomacy schtick (yes, I know - trade deals with the US) and officially tell Trump and his henchmen to keep their noses out of our nation's business...

As Brexiters were keen to point out, we are a sovereign nation and do not welcome other countries interfering in our political and constitutional life. I assume the principle applies even if that country holds views that are similar to those protesting the interference from the EU?

Of course, it doesn't help our case that Labour volunteers entered the US to campaign for the Democrats - even tho' the Labour party neither funded nor organised the trip, and that the US Federal Election Commission allows such campaigns, or that such campaigning is "not unusual"... this is Trump we are dealing with, and that really was a bad move. Volunteers or not, such campaigning was obviously going to be seen as interference.

As to Free Speech - well obviously everyone has the right to be pro or anti abortion, and to say so. But abortion is a medical matter too, and everyone undergoing one has the right to privacy, and the right to not be intimidated or threatened by those opposing it.

There are those who oppose blood transfusions, vaccination - they also insist this is an ethical matter, but we don't allow them to cross the barrier and invade the privacy of the person involved.

I have mixed feelings about abortion, but they are my feelings and unless asked, I wouldn't dream of imposing them on anyone else.

But that is nearly everyone's view of free speech.

I think that we are misunderstanding " free speech" in the USA. It is only free if it supports Mr Trump.
The man himself is talking of sacking anyone working in the finance sector of government whose data does not support Mr Trump's claims about the economy.

Crossed posts churchview

Oreo

I think the free speech squad is payback for Labour sending a squad to help get Kamala Harris elected in the US.
Trump has a thin skin and a long memory.

People from the UK went to support Trump, Farage and his crew! Why is that any different!

Oreo

I think the free speech squad is payback for Labour sending a squad to help get Kamala Harris elected in the US.
Trump has a thin skin and a long memory.

That's pretty unreasonable then given that Trump was happy for Farage and Liz Truss to campaign in the USA on his behalf.

AGAA4

The awful thing is the US squad just wants to shame women who are attending an abortion clinic.
Saying that they just want to talk to the women having an abortion is so very wrong and I'm glad they were arrested.
Going for an abortion must be a traumatic experience and to have someone preach at you about pro life would be unbearable.

I could not agree more and it’s very simple, if one doesn’t wish to abort a pregnancy they don’t have to, it should infringe on another woman’s legal and moral right to choose to abortion their own pregnancy.

Shame the UK and the US can't fast forward 4 years.

Yes, shocking about that brain dead woman. Can her family refuse to pay the medical bills?

I think, quite honestly, that Trump has dementia. So many signs. He can't finish sentences. Falls asleep in important and televised meetings. Uses 'substitute' words. There is one video where he is handing out awards, but can't open what looks like a simple lift the lid jewellery box. Has to be prompted about what he is signing. Keeps saying 'I don't know about that'.

Trump is not content with ruling the US he wants to also tell other countries how to govern. He is miffed with Putin after telling him to stop bombing Ukraine as Putin nodded on and carried on regardless.
Since Trump came into office there has been criticism of the UK over free speech.
Does he think we are going to change our laws because he says so.
He does need to address free speech in the US

I think the free speech squad is payback for Labour sending a squad to help get Kamala Harris elected in the US.
Trump has a thin skin and a long memory.

Perhaps you are aware of the woman in the USA who is brain dead, but is being kept "alive" as she is a few weeks pregnant so that her fetus might survive.
The family, who I believe do not support this will be paying the ( presumably huge) medical bill.
Oh, and some doctors suggest that the infant is likely to be significantly impaired by mother's illness.... more sadness, anxiety, and expenses for the family.
Off you pop Mr Trump's henchmen..

The irony.

<https://time.com/7281515/trump-100-days-reproductive-health-abortion/>

"Within his first month in office, Trump acted quickly on a number of issues related to reproductive health. He pardoned several anti-abortion protesters convicted of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a law intended to protect abortion clinics and patients by barring people from physically blocking or threatening patients. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said it would be curtailing prosecutions against people accused of violating the FACE Act.

The plain truth is that Trump can be mentally defective, & politicians privately can realise that,but so long as voters keep voting for him the Republicans won't have a bad word to say about him.

Trump would turn both the US and UK into Gilead if he could.

But what of other American politicians? Will no-one put into plain words the painful truth, that Donald Trump is seriously mentally defective and needs to be deposed and confined to a secure psychiatric facility?

AGAA4

Interfering in another country's laws and regulations is appalling. Trump needs to sort out the messes in the USA before telling the UK how to behave.
The safety of women obviously means nothing to these people. If they want to put their own women's lives in danger that's up to them but how dare they come here to do the same.

Hear, hear AGAA4.

Sort out your own sh** Trump!

Leave our women alone!

The awful thing is the US squad just wants to shame women who are attending an abortion clinic.
Saying that they just want to talk to the women having an abortion is so very wrong and I'm glad they were arrested.
Going for an abortion must be a traumatic experience and to have someone preach at you about pro life would be unbearable.

Grandmabatty

I would hope that, if they cross the no go area, they are arrested.

They are, whether its women going in to the clinic reporting, or, more likely, someone working in the clinic will report it to the police.

"Some clinics may have specific protocols for reporting demonstrations to the police, which may involve designated staff members or forms" - or named contacts.

Reports can be made anonymously and there are both criminal and civil actions that can legally be taken.

We are actually not at all "gung ho" on abortion.

"UK abortion clinics, including those that are NHS-funded, offer counselling services before an abortion decision is made. This counselling is designed to provide support, information, and a safe space to discuss feelings and options related to pregnancy" .

I would hope that, if they cross the no go area, they are arrested.