Brazil fines American Airlines pilot for gesture

[taranaki]

Originally Posted by DGB454

So you are saying It's silly that it's a crime to say "I will kill the President"?

I'd have to say that it should be a crime to make death threats against any other person.But you can bet your balls that any threats made against GWB would be acted upon far more seriously than if I were to threaten to kill an average American citizen.One law for all and freedom of speech are a quaint relic of history in America as far as I can see.

[syr74]

It has been a crime to threaten to kill the President in any way, shape , or form since like 3 BC. (That is a slight exaggeration) And, it is a crime to threaten to kill anybody, but yes...it is taken far more seriously when it is the President. Generally, it is not enforced in other instances.

[taranaki]

Exactly....so a threat to kill someone surrounded by heavily-armed bodyguards and living in a fortress is considered more serious than a threat to kill some little old lady living alone down the street?

[Flatrater]

Originally Posted by taranaki

Exactly....so a threat to kill someone surrounded by heavily-armed bodyguards and living in a fortress is considered more serious than a threat to kill some little old lady living alone down the street?

Yup you got that right!!

I think the reasoning behind this and I am not saying it is right is the president of USA is the head man in charge and if the head of state is killed or injured the government will fall into chaos! The problem I see is the president is only a figure head he can't do anything he wants just because he is the president. He still has to go thru several layers of government to get anything major done. The president has some powers but he can't run the government all by himself. The law is that way to protect the president and not the person who is the president if you catch my drift!

[taranaki]

Sorry,but if you think that Bush runs America,you're missing the point.He's merely the frontman,and not a particularly good,sincere,or coherent one at that.

[justacruiser]

It's a crime to threaten anyones life here in the U.S. and the authorities will do something about it even if it's just detaining the person you accused of it for questioning.

If it's the president, well, it would make sense to take a threat against him more seriously because there are a lot more people with the motivation to do so out there than there are for killing Joe Schmoe.

It's not just Bush either, Taranaki, there were incidents of arrests for death threats when Clinton was president too. In fact, at a local high school here in Kern Co. a student was on a chatroom in a computer lab and said something to the affect of killing the president, the FBI showed up looking for him within a few hours of him saying that. They take it seriously. As for that Brazilian law, it's one more reason why I like the country I live in now and if I travel to a foriegn country, I will do a bit of studying on their laws first.

[zebrathree]

The Secret Service run that, not the FBI.

[DGB454]

Originally Posted by taranaki

I'd have to say that it should be a crime to make death threats against any other person.But you can bet your balls that any threats made against GWB would be acted upon far more seriously than if I were to threaten to kill an average American citizen.One law for all and freedom of speech are a quaint relic of history in America as far as I can see.

Like some of the others said....it is taken more seriuosly when the threat is against the president. The reason behind this is because he is the leader of the nation. If you think it's different in any other nation in the world then I dare you to go to that country and stand in front of their leaders "fortress" with people around and announce you are going to kill their leader. Some countries you would be killed on the spot I'm guessing.

[blindside.AMG]

Originally Posted by taranaki

I'd have to say that it should be a crime to make death threats against any other person.But you can bet your balls that any threats made against GWB would be acted upon far more seriously than if I were to threaten to kill an average American citizen.One law for all and freedom of speech are a quaint relic of history in America as far as I can see.

Just out of curiosity, what happens in New Zealand when you threaten to kill the Prime Minister of your country?

[zebrathree]

Depends on the circumstance.

Its not blanket like the Yankee system.

[Flatrater]

Originally Posted by taranaki

Sorry,but if you think that Bush runs America,you're missing the point.He's merely the frontman,and not a particularly good,sincere,or coherent one at that.

taranaki if you re-read my post you will see I did say the president is a fgure head! Just like in most countries the president or prime misster is a figure head!

But what really gets me is countries that we helped out rescued them from harm sit and trash the USA becuse we did something or we didn't give them something. I am not saying your country taranski. But this reminds of something I read about a US solider in France. Here is what I remember of the story. A US solider in France encounters a hostile Frenchmen screaming at him "Yankee go home" The solider looks him in the face and asks the Frenchmen if he speaks German! The Frenchmen looking puzzled tells the solider no he can't speak german. Next the solider looks him in the eye and says "Your weclome"! I'm not sure if this story is true or not but it describes the attitude of people sometimes.


What I find humor in is the fact that countries that whine and complain about America are the same countries recieving money from America and they are the ones complaining on how hard it is to enter America. Sounds like some want the best of both worlds! You need to give alittle to get alittle. This may sound harsh but I am going to say it anyway! If you don't like America don't accept the American dollar and don't come here!

Alot of the US bashing I believe is geared at people saying "look here we stood up to the biggest country in the world! Look at us we aren't scared" That is the politic talk from govenrment countries just to appease their people. Someone has to stir the shit pot and that is what most of this is about!

Some people are never happy and nothing the US can do will ever please them. We can sit here and give a country billions of dollars while we have people here starving to death getting killed, and we give the money away that can be used to help us at home in the US. Then we get slammed by the country we just gave them billions of dollars in aid! Here in the US that is called biting the hand that feeds you.

Now back to the topic!

I think this Brazilian law is stupid! The US made this law to protect the Americans to keep these idiots out of our country that are intent on killing us! This law is here to protect us. Brazil made there law in a childish and immature act to punish us because they refuse to do anything to stop all of these terrorists from leaving their country and coming here to blow us away! Have you forgotten how many innocent people died in New York city? What did these people do to deserve death? Anything that we can do to stop terrorists should be done and done fast! If you want to condone the terrorists living in your country you can keep them and don't let them come here to the US!

[DGB454]

Originally Posted by zebrathree

Depends on the circumstance.

Its not blanket like the Yankee system.

Please explain the NZ system then. When is it acceptable to threaten the Prime Ministers life?

[justacruiser]

Originally Posted by zebrathree

The Secret Service run that, not the FBI.

Then why was it the FBI that showed up? The FBI will do their part too you know, they are the Federal Bureau of INVESTIGATION after all...

[taranaki]

Originally Posted by blindside.AMG

Just out of curiosity, what happens in New Zealand when you threaten to kill the Prime Minister of your country?

Curious thing is,I've never heard of anyone doing it yet.

[zebrathree]

Originally Posted by justacruiser

Then why was it the FBI that showed up? The FBI will do their part too you know, they are the Federal Bureau of INVESTIGATION after all...

USSS needs help from time to time, they can't be everywhere.

Please explain the NZ system then. When is it acceptable to threaten the Prime Ministers life?

Threats are often empty, with no Intent. I capitalise intent as I am using the legal definition here.

Threats are always investigated; however you'll find that often it's mental health patients doing the "threatening".

think this Brazilian law is stupid! The US made this law to protect the Americans to keep these idiots out of our country that are intent on killing us! This law is here to protect us. Brazil made there law in a childish and immature act to punish us because they refuse to do anything to stop all of these terrorists from leaving their country and coming here to blow us away! Have you forgotten how many innocent people died in New York city? What did these people do to deserve death? Anything that we can do to stop terrorists should be done and done fast! If you want to condone the terrorists living in your country you can keep them and don't let them come here to the US!

I find your post amusing. You do realise that all the terrorists are already in country don't you?

Don't tell me you haven't thought of the domestic-international terrorist link?