Do you consider people who break laws you dislike to be freedom fighters?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

it's your choose.

[Alcon]

It depends on the law.

If it is something that blatantly violates principal human rights and has very little logic to it, yes.

Otherwise, not really. And I think most tax evaders are just doing it out of self-interest, not fighting for the greater good.

[John Dibble]

Freedom fighters fight for everyone's right to do something - they don't do it just for themselves. For instance, you'll find that most drug dealers are just in the business for money, not because they think drugs should be legal.

[angus]

No, I think they're simply lawbreakers.  I think it's time to be honest about democracy.  There are laws we like and laws we don't like.  And we accept majority rule.  I think I sympathize, even empathize, with lawbreakers on a daily basis, but I don't think it's noble to give in to the mental masturbation of pretending that they're breaking laws in some quest for the greater good of mankind.  When you're getting high, you're just getting high.  When you're having sex with a young man-child, you're just having sex with a young man-child.  When you're liberating money from the prisons known as banks, you're just stealing.  There are those who work legitimately and soberly, through the appropriate means, as is the custom in democratically run republics, to change laws.  These are lawyers and teachers and activists, and they may reasonably be called "freedom fighters" in a sense.  But the lawbreaker is simply the lawbreaker.  I bear him no grudge, mind you, but let's be honest.

[Vincent]

Nope
Most likely they're just opportunists.

I suppose if they hold demonstrations, but that really has little effect.

[opebo]

but I don't think it's noble to give in to the mental masturbation of pretending that they're breaking laws in some quest for the greater good of mankind. 

I never meant to imply the above.  When I say NAMBLA members and drug dealers are freedom fighters, I mean they're simply fighting for their own freedom.  What kind of ass would fight for someone else's freedom?

NAMBLA of course is a political organization, but free-lance pedophiles are freedom fighters as well.  I think what makes drug dealers so appealing as freedom fighters is once in a great while they actually kill one of State's enforcers (cops).

Of course, one might say that murderers in general are fighting for the freedom to commit murder..  however at least in this case society has a good argument that murder has a negative effect on its members.  Drug use of course has no effect on others. 

[WalterMitty]

scabs are freedom fighters.

[angus]

scabs are the type that would "survive in the wild"

union members are a drag on the whole species, no doubt.



But scabs are just like the junk peddlers and the whores and the petty thieves.  Just trying to make a living.  Certainly not fighting for anyone's freedom.  It's okay not to always have superlatives, you know.  It's possible that some things are neither bad nor good.  They just are.

[Citizen James]

No, I think they're simply lawbreakers.  I think it's time to be honest about democracy.  There are laws we like and laws we don't like.  And we accept majority rule.  I think I sympathize, even empathize, with lawbreakers on a daily basis, but I don't think it's noble to give in to the mental masturbation of pretending that they're breaking laws in some quest for the greater good of mankind.  When you're getting high, you're just getting high.  When you're having sex with a young man-child, you're just having sex with a young man-child.  When you're liberating money from the prisons known as banks, you're just stealing.  There are those who work legitimately and soberly, through the appropriate means, as is the custom in democratically run republics, to change laws.  These are lawyers and teachers and activists, and they may reasonably be called "freedom fighters" in a sense.  But the lawbreaker is simply the lawbreaker.  I bear him no grudge, mind you, but let's be honest.

And what of 'colored' people who sit on the 'white' section of the bus.  Or those crazy folks who dressed up as indians and poured tea into the Boston harbor to protest taxation without representation.

I think Alcon's got it down perfect.

[J. J.]

I agree with Alcon, but I would say that they are practicing civil disobedience.

[Gabu]

NAMBLA of course is a political organization, but free-lance pedophiles are freedom fighters as well.  I think what makes drug dealers so appealing as freedom fighters is once in a great while they actually kill one of State's enforcers (cops).

Okay, that's going in my signature.

[A18]

I support tax evasion, but that's about it.

[TomC]

If it involves violence, no.

[TX_1824]

Too many variables to simply answer with a "yes" or "no".

[Lunar]

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If they accept the legal consequences for their actions, like King did.

[Lunar]

I never meant to imply the above.  When I say NAMBLA members and drug dealers are freedom fighters, I mean they're simply fighting for their own freedom.  What kind of ass would fight for someone else's freedom?

Everyone is a freedom fighter then.  Everyone pursues their freedoms as they see them.

[dazzleman]

It depends on the law.

If it is something that blatantly violates principal human rights and has very little logic to it, yes.

Otherwise, not really. And I think most tax evaders are just doing it out of self-interest, not fighting for the greater good.

I agree 100%.  While there are some genuine freedom fighters, I think most people that claim to be are simply opportunistic, and are looking to falsely turn that into a virtue.

[dazzleman]

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If they accept the legal consequences for their actions, like King did.

Does that mean I'm a freedom fighter because I speed, and accept the consequences when I get nailed?

[Lunar]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

If they accept the legal consequences for their actions, like King did.

Does that mean I'm a freedom fighter because I speed, and accept the consequences when I get nailed?

I don't oppose speeding laws and I doubt you were speeding as a statement.

[dazzleman]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

If they accept the legal consequences for their actions, like King did.

Does that mean I'm a freedom fighter because I speed, and accept the consequences when I get nailed?

I don't oppose speeding laws and I doubt you were speeding as a statement.

I realize that.  I was only kidding around, man...

[minionofmidas]

No, I think they're simply lawbreakers.  I think it's time to be honest about democracy.  There are laws we like and laws we don't like.  And we accept majority rule.  I think I sympathize, even empathize, with lawbreakers on a daily basis, but I don't think it's noble to give in to the mental masturbation of pretending that they're breaking laws in some quest for the greater good of mankind.  When you're getting high, you're just getting high.  When you're having sex with a young man-child, you're just having sex with a young man-child.  When you're liberating money from the prisons known as banks, you're just stealing.  There are those who work legitimately and soberly, through the appropriate means, as is the custom in democratically run republics, to change laws.  These are lawyers and teachers and activists, and they may reasonably be called "freedom fighters" in a sense.  But the lawbreaker is simply the lawbreaker.  I bear him no grudge, mind you, but let's be honest.

What Angus said. Wise as often.

[MasterJedi]

Nope, they're not freedom fighters.

[King]

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If they accept the legal consequences for their actions, like King did.

I refuse to go to jail!!!!

[Beet]

Depends on the type of law and the motivations behind breaking it.

[migrendel]

I consider them lawbreakers with good intentions.