Texas: two gunmen shot dead after opening fire at Mohammed cartoon contest

[All Along The Watchtower]

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http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/03/us/mohammed-drawing-contest-shooting/index.html

[All Along The Watchtower]

This isn't a weird concept to me because I respect the concerns of human beings, even if they're rooted in experiences or theological/philosophical/whatever schemas that I don't understand.

You mean we can't have an absolutist, universal, applicable-in-all-circumstances definition of "free speech"?  

It's almost as if you're implying that a concept like "free speech' shouldn't be treated as some abstract legal/constitutional principle that has no regard for actual conditions in society....

EDIT: Just saw your edit.  Makes sense.

[All Along The Watchtower]

I think social and political context does matter.

I don't want to assume too much, but I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that a significant  number of those attending this event are white, middle-class, politically conservative American citizens. They are attending an event hosted by a group called "Stop Islamization of America" whose founder has -among other things - called Islam "the most violent, genocidal ideology in the world." Furthermore, a keynote speaker at the event is a prominent  far-right political figure who also has some really mean, bigoted things to say about Islam, and Muslims in general.
 
Now - much to the chagrin of many in the state - Texas is home to many thousands of Muslims; however, they make up less than 2 percent of the overall population of the state. Somehow, I doubt that they have much political or social power over the state's affairs. Can the people who are defending the "Stop Islamization of America" crowd tell me how exactly a dominant group (certainly, within Texas, and pretty much anywhere in America, for that matter) going out of its way to demean, insult, and yes, offend a relatively powerless religious minority group is somehow A-OK, because of "free speech?"

People seem to forget that speech has consequences. No, I'm not referring to violence here; I'm referring to the further marginalization of less powerful groups in American society, because those who have power and/or are in the majority, can't resist the urge to exercise their "free speech" in the most insensitive and callous ways.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Reminder: Geert Wilders (who was a featured guest at the Texas event and a longtime ally of Geller) wants to ban the Koran in the Netherlands.

muh freedom of speech.

[All Along The Watchtower]

The idea that Pamela Geller and Geert Wilders are "victims" is pretty rich.