http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_words
Fighting words
Fighting words are written or spoken words, generally expressed to incite hatred or violence from their target. Specific definitions, freedoms, and limitations of fighting words vary by jurisdiction. It is also used in a general sense of words that when uttered create (deliberately or not) a verbal or physical confrontation by their mere usage.
United States
The fighting words doctrine, in United States constitutional law, is a limitation to freedom of speech as protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. In its 9-0 decision, Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942), the U.S. Supreme Court established the doctrine and held that "insulting or 'fighting words,' those that by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace" are among the "well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech [which] the prevention and punishment of...have never been thought to raise any constitutional problem."
Chaplinsky decision
Chaplinsky, a Jehovah's Witness, had purportedly told a New Hampshire town marshal who was attempting to prevent him from preaching "You are a God-damned racketeer" and "a damned fascist" and was arrested. The court upheld the arrest and wrote in its decision that
There are certain well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech, the prevention and punishment of which have never been thought to raise any constitutional problem. These include the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or "fighting words" those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace. It has been well observed that such utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality.
– Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 1942
Post-Chaplinsky
The court has continued to uphold the doctrine but also steadily narrowed the grounds on which fighting words are held to apply. In Street v. New York (1969), the court overturned a statute prohibiting flag-burning and verbally abusing the flag, holding that mere offensiveness does not qualify as "fighting words". Similarly, in Cohen v. California (1971), Cohen's wearing a jacket that said "fuck the draft" did not constitute uttering fighting words since there had been no "personally abusive epithets"
"Space: Above And Beyond"
"The Angriest Angel"
11 February 1996
Episode 15 DVD:
00:31:42
Commodore Ross: For this mission, the fourth planet from Achilles will be designated "Gooch." It lies 240 M.S.K.'s from the Saratoga. Five-eight, as the diversionary squadron, you are the bait. You will patrol this area until engaged by the enemy. At which time Colonel Schrader, trailing the formation will fire the Sewell Fuel missile at the enemy craft while you turn tail and run. It is the nature of this mission and the colonel fully understands that if engaged by the enemy he is going one-on-one.
Lt. Colonel McQueen: Commodore Ross. If I may have a word, sir.
Commodore Ross: Have it.
Lt. Colonel McQueen: Sir, the colonel has become aware that he has not been assigned the mission of his design.
Commodore Ross: That's affirmative. Colonel Schrader has been assigned.
Lt. Colonel McQueen: Sir, the admiral himself assured the colonel -
Commodore Ross: The final call is mine, Colonel. You are not fit to fly.
Lt. Colonel McQueen: Sir, the colonel knows the commodore to be a man of honor.
Commodore Ross: You are not fit to fly, Colonel.
Lt. Colonel McQueen: Sir, I have not been presented with the opportunity to demonstrate to the contrary, sir!
Commodore Ross: I don't have the time to let you go through qualifications. And I don't need a damn physical to know you don't have your sea legs. This mission means everything and I refuse to jeopardize it because you're taking it personally.
http://www.cswap.com/1993/Striking_Distance/cap/en/25fps/a/00_50
Striking Distance
:50:41
He's putting them in the water
so I'll find them.
:50:45
- He wants me to find these girls.
- You're crazy, that's it.
:50:51
- He called me.
- He called you?
:50:56
- That's right.
- What did he say?
:51:01
- He didn't say anything.
