There are too many misconceptions of 'freedom of speech' in the United States. Freedom of speech does not give you the ability to freely say anything you want, whenever you want, wherever you want. Freedom of speech merely gives you the right to say what you want within reason.

For example, if I were to go into a crowded theater and yell "FIRE," and a few people were trampled to death, I would be criminally responsible for their deaths. Futhermore, if I walk up to a cop and say, "I'm going to murder you," I will also be promptely arrested. Freedom of speech applies when the benefits outweigh the costs; clearly the ability for me to say whatever I want to that cop was clearly outweighed by the cop's personal safety.

Recently some asshole from the NY Times went to a commencement speech in Illinois and gave an 18 minute tirade on why the US was empire-building in Iraq and was booed off stage (his mic was unplugged twice and he eventually had to leave). Some liberals are bemoaning the lack of "critical thinking."

Let me tell you something - and this very closely relates to the situation a while ago that celebrities quickly discovered - there is a time and place for you to put out your thoughts. This speaker went to a COMMENCEMENT which is normally the celebration of four years of toiling for a degree, and decided not to talk about anything BUT the Iraq situation. If I'm at my own graduation, I will not take it if my moment of GLORY, my one defining moment as I pass into the real world, will be dirtied by someone's political views.

Basically the dude decided to use this moment as his personal platform ... it's sickening.

People need to learn when to say what. Freedom of speech doesn't mean you can anything you want, wherever you want, whenever you want. There will be a private backlash if you exercise your rights at the wrong time.