SPEECH ? OR EXPRESSION THEREOF ..............

If you really want to piss me off, there are lot's of things you could do.

For my own sanities sake, I'm going to only name two (2).

1.) Burn any form of the American Flag. (I highly recommend you do not, I repeat do not do this in my presence. Just a fair warning !)

2.)Show up at an American Soldiers Funeral, ( Bring a few jackass members of the Westboro Baptist Church with you for good measure.) and make a total ass of yourself. Oh, please make sure I'm not in attendence at the funeral ahead of time. Just a fair warning !

I do not consider either one of these desperate acts of stupidity as " Freedom of Speech ".

Here's why :

Article I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
 
OK......Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.
 
The "keyword" here is speech.
 
At the risk of being sued, I'm going to directly quote Webster's online dictionary directly. Here goes :
 
7 results for: speech

speech
nounspeech community
nounspeech form
nounfigure of speechfree speech
nounpart of speechvisible speech
noun

************** Main Entry: speech**************
Pronunciation: \ ˈspēch \

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English speche, from Old English sprǣc, spǣc; akin to Old English sprecan to speak - More at - speak

Date: before 12th century

Results
1 a.  the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken wordsb. bexchange of spoken words : conversation
2 a. something that is spoken : utteranceb. ba usually public discourse : address
3 a. language dialectb. ban individual manner or style of speaking
4. the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary copyright © 2010 by Merriam-Webster, incorporate

Speech to me is a verbal action, not a physical one.

************* Main Entry: free speech **************
 Function: noun
Date: 1781

Results
1781 speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitutionalsothe right to such speech - an unconstitutional restraint on free speech - National Law Journal

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary copyright © 2010 by Merriam-Webster, incorporated
 
**********Main Entry: figure of speech***************

Date: 1751

Results
1751 a form of expression (as a simile or metaphor) used to convey meaning or heighten effect often by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has a meaning or connotation familiar to the reader or listener.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary copyright © 2010 by Merriam-Webster, incorporated
 
As I bring this post to an end, it is my opinion that, Destroying Flags, Invading the privacy of funerals and other forms of cowardly acts hiding behind "Free Speech" are actually Figures of Speech".
 
That's my opinion, and the Constitution entitles you to yours.
 
Bob