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lasergraph · 70-79, M
Freedom of speech has been tested in court many times through the years. In the 1960s a man was arrested on obscenities charges for wearing a jacket that had Fuck the draft on the back. The court ruled the man's intention was not sexual but rather an expression about the draft and threw the case out.
Heartlander · 80-89, M
@lasergraph Whatever happened to the "community standards" test? With a jacket with "Fuck the draft" would have been acceptable use of language in NYC it would have been offensive in Prairie Village, Kansas. Independent of the intent of the message.
lasergraph · 70-79, M
@Heartlander I think the case was in California. It was in the 60s and I don't remember many details.
Heartlander · 80-89, M
@lasergraph I remember the Lenny Bruce years when he was using the 4-letter words for shock purposes. And both he and the government were see-sawing over whether it was protected speech or just words intended to shock. Kind of like words that can't be used over public airways on TV or radio.