George:

I am noticing certain confusion on many people's part between freedom of speech an civil disobedience.

It is one thing to espouse one's own opinions, peaceably, about issues such as, for example: the living wage or, for or against, abortion; but the constitution does not give us the right to violate the rights of others to live peacefully.

If anti-abortion or anti-globalization activists, as an example, feel that expressing their views without respecting other people's rights not to be inconvenienced is necessary, than they are committing civil disobedience.

People can practice civil disobedience if they feel their cause merits it, but then they have to be willing to deal with the consequences of it, such as fines and jail time, without complaining. Am I missing something?

Henry Weinschenk (electronic mail, July 31, 2001).