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Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

The First Amendment protects us only from the government, not from each other. You cannot speak offensive language and invoke "Free Speech" to defend what you are saying.

Choosing to speak diplomatically, particularly when in social settings where you disagree with others, is not a violation of your rights to free speech. It is your choice. You are "free" to say anything you want. However, you may not like the results.

And you often need to prove that it was a state action and not some bureaucrat being a jerk. Column: Applying the Constitution to Private Actors (New York Law Journal) | New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) - American Civil Liberties Union of New York State

http://www.harvardlawreview.org/wp-c...fs/DEVO_10.pdf