Found this on a blog I read, could it be the right is learning the value of not shouting down people with differing opinions? [img]tongue.gif[/img]


"It’s plainly wrong to want to punish someone for an opinion you don’t agree with."
--Rush Limbaugh, 10/3/03

This statement is one that separates ignorant people from intelligent people. Ignorant people actually believe their opinions to be fact; while, intelligent people realize their opinions are based upon their perceptions and are not based upon fact. As such, no opinion can be deemed right or wrong, and everyone needs to accept the views others may hold. Punishing someone solely based upon their opinions is not only wrong, but it is one of the most ignorant stances any person could take.

You couldn't be more wrong Maelakin. I don't base my opinions on my emotions but on fact. I actually check out something (or try to) I read or hear before I express an opinion on it. And Rokenn, it's the left that tries to supress any political speech that runs contrary to what they hold dear. Ever read about the thing that they do at the colleges and universities? If you don't toe the party line you WILL be punished.

Khazadman, it is unclear as to where you think I am wrong. Your statement pertaining to your opinion being based on fact and not emotion has no relevance to what I said, unless of course you are equating emotion as being equal to ones perception. For ease of debate, I’ll define the manner in which I have used these terms.

Perception
\Per*cep"tion\, n. [L. perceptio: cf. F. perception. See Perceive.] 1. The act of perceiving; cognizance by the senses or intellect; apperhension by the bodily organs, or by the mind, of what is presented to them; discernment; apperhension; cognition.

Opinion
\O*pin"ion\, n. [F., from L. opinio. See Opine.] 1. That which is opined; a notion or conviction founded on probable evidence; belief stronger than impression, less strong than positive knowledge; settled judgment in regard to any point of knowledge or action.

So lets start by clearing up a misconception. If you base your “opinion” on nothing but fact then it is not your opinion, it is a fact. If even a minute detail were left unanswered, then any conclusion pertaining to that question would be classified as an opinion. Since an opinion is nothing but an educated guess at best, then no single opinion is a more correct when compared to another.

Therefore, when you take the above and compare it to the statement provided by Rush, you can see how it would be wrong to punish someone on his or her opinion.

Opinion is when the assent of the understanding is so far gained by evidence of probability, that it rather inclines to one persuasion than to another, yet not without a mixture of uncertainty or doubting. --Sir M. Hale.

I wish the left would learn it. :backatya:

and different people opinions are based somewhat on your moral stances. So some people might think that they have the right to punish someone else because they have been brought up like that.

Opinion:
1.A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof. 2.A judgment based on special knowledge and given by an expert. 3.A judgment or an estimation of the merit of a person or thing. 4.The prevailing view. 5.Law. A formal statement by a court or other adjudacative body of the legal reasons and principles for the conclusions of the court.

The American Heritage Dictionary

I guess it's all in which definition you use, huh Maelakin?