So Sterling pissed me off again.You see, Sterling feels his “constitutional rights” have been violated because he is being punished for his retarded racist ramblings (yay alliteration!). So let’s find out why he’s wrong.
The image above the text contains the exact text of the 1st amendment of the constitution for the United States of America, more commonly referred to as “Freedom of speech”. People get the meaning of freedom confused as well, so let’s just define that right now. Oxford dictionary defines freedom as “The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint”. This does not mean there aren’t consequences.
Back to Sterling. Was he at all hindered or restrained from saying what he said? No. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be writing this… article? blog? editorial? Whatever you want to call it. Were any laws made to forbid his racist remarks before, during, or after they were made? No. Did the United States government take action against Mr. Sterling? No, the NBA did based on their own bylaws. If he finds them unfair, he can counter sue. So, I’m unsure where exactly you feel your constitutional rights were violated.
Freedom of speech doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want without getting in trouble, it just means you can’t be stopped from saying it or punished by the law. If people want to sue, your boss wants to fire you, or the NBA wants to make you sell your team, then they have the freedom to say that as well.
********DISCLAIMER: I’m not a law student************
The No Name Ranter 