Nazi Salute = Ban For Life?!

Nazi salute by Greek soccer player brings outrage, ban for life -Washington Post

So much for freedom of expression.... Banned for life?

I understand that a national team from any country wants a player  that's politically neutral and is a good representative of the country, etc.

This is a 20 year old kid and, while I doubt he "doesn't know" what a Nazi salute is, I wouldn't be surprised that this kid doesn't actually realize the full significance of the recent (last century) historical meaning behind it.

Those "wiser" voices in the crowd that are "outraged" and speaking out against it seem so ready to exterminate this kid because they seem to have jumped to the conclusion that he is some force of evil that must be eliminated so that the genocide can be halted -or... what?!

This is exactly why we have the First Amendment here in the U.S.A.  Our Founding Fathers labored to give us a limited government "for the people, by the people" but strove to also protect us from mob rule.   (Ironically, parts of our U.S. government are modeled after some Greek ideas!)

I'd hate to see the organization this kid belongs to (Greece's national soccer team, I think - I was too irritated by the "life ban" thing and all the over-reaction to what probably amounts to a 20-year-old kid being silly in mocking a gesture) being allowed to take such harsh action against an individual who supposedly belongs to FREE Western Civilization.

I also hope that cooler minds are actually running things and are not influenced so much by the angry mob that seems ready to lynch this kid!

This is why I am so thankful to live in the U.S.A.

In my opinion, though there seems to be a growing pressure and influence to be "citizens of the world," the U.S.A. should never give up it's sovereignty to "international law" precisely because of thinking like this example shows. (I think, if anything, the pressure and influence should be the other way around!)

Can you imagine, our Bill of Rights subordinated to the "International Community" (it's already happening to some extent, I hear, with U.S.  Judges citing "International Law" in their decisions)!  Again (my opinion), I think "international law" should cite U.S. Law!

Now, I understand the countries formerly occupied by the Axis  Forces being sensitive about Nazi salutes and symbols.  Swastikas, lightning-bolt stylized S's, and other Nazi symbols are even illegal in Germany (at least, in public).

Here in the U.S.A., our freedom of speech is protected to the extent that, if one so desires, we can openly display swastikas, read a Bible, burn a Bible, Read Mein   Kampf right after reading The  Tanakh.  We can freely purchase a Koran, discuss The Communist Manifesto, make fun of Barry Obama, George  Bush, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels without fear of imprisonment, torture, forced labor or life banishment from anything!

We have Aryans, Communists, Vegans, Southern Baptists, Buddhists, Islamists, Adventists, Libertarians, Nation of Islam, Mormans, Creationists, Atheists, etcetera, ad infinitum!

We can speak out for or against any of these above mentioned movements, ideas, ideas or  groups without fear of (legal) retribution!

Here,  not only can an individual fly the Confederate Flag, but states can still have it incorporated into their state flag!

While l don't agree with a lot of folks and ideas, I stand by their First  Amendment and Everyone's right (in the U.S.A) to believe, speak, and express themselves as they see fit - so long as their activities do not violate nor infringe upon another's rights (even if it is deemed "offensive" - I don't mind warning labels and common courtesy, as long as it's not used as a tool just to shut me up!)

Free speech, free press, the right to redress the government with grievances, etc. lend to the healthy public discourse and debate, sometimes leading to improvements (like, say,  the abolishment of slavery, etc.)

So...  is this kid a good soccer player?  Maybe there's a slot open on Team U.S.A!