[quote name='JTippetts' timestamp='1355721745' post='5011546']
Free speech is free speech, and if we aren't willing to defend free speech, regardless of our personal beliefs regarding the speaker, then we all will eventually lose our right to free speech.
Free speech is an extremely important principle, and there's a very good reason why it is included as a "universal human right." However, free speech should not give anyone the right to say whatever they want whenever they want.[/quote]That is why in a sane legislation, there is no unlimited free speech. Free speech is only free within limits. You're not allowed to say "bomb" at an airport or "fire" in a theater.
Of course, in reality, there is no such thing as free speech anyway. If you make use of your civil rights and your opinion is unopportune enough, you'll soon find out that your civil rights are worth a crap (and no, not only in China, in every country).
By the way, there is a bomb at the airport.
All in all, the many so-called freedoms that we have usually cause at least as much trouble as they are worth. For most people, "freedom" is not worth a lot, and they can hardly ever exercise it, but it always opens backdoors for criminals, religious fanatics, and other vicious and unscrupolous people. But that's true for most things, I guess...