Free speech.
Last weekend, as I am sure most of you
know, there was a contest in Texas to see who could render the best
drawing of Mohammad. Two Muslim men, who allegedly had a tie to ISIS,
tried to rush in and kill those people only to be killed themselves.
The media went nuts, suggesting that this was too provocative, and
that we really need to curb this kind of language that might cause
hate or violence. I disagree. The Constitution of the United States
makes it very clear that we have the freedom of speech/expression. “
Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech..” It
does not say that you should be careful of what you say. It doesn't
say to not speak of things that will anger or offend and it certainly
does not speak against so called blasphemy. Yet the talking heads,
both conservative and liberal, those who make a living using words
and depictions, were suggesting that we need to curb this because
someone might get killed. Really? I am sure when our fore fathers
wrote the Declaration of Independence they knew that it was putting a
noose around their necks, yet they wrote it any ways and later gave
us the same right. More importantly; Why should we allow terrorists
to dictate what we say or do in our own country? If they don't like
our freedoms ,they are more than welcome to go to the 57 countries
that are living under Sharia, no one is stopping them.
What seems to be happening, in my
humble opinion,is that Americans are becoming so weak ,and soft ,that
the only language, the only type of speech that can be handled by the
PC crowd, is that which does not offend or is politically correct,
and it's being taught to our students. Colleges across the country
are filled with little more than PC nonsense but if you think
differently, say your pro Israel or anti gay, then you are bigoted
and you will be silenced or banned from speaking at campus events.
If the only type of speech that's ever
going to be allowed is politically correct or soft and fuzzy than you
do not have free speech. You have little more than regurgitation. You
cannot have an exchange of ideas if only one point of view is
allowed. No one said you have to like the other persons ideas but
they are still allowed to have them and express them.
A few years ago I defended the rights
of the Chick Filet owner to speak about his belief in traditional
marriage and the protest that ensued. I
never mentioned one way or another as to whether or not I agreed, but
because I defended his right to speak I was hammered by many and even
some who are near and dear to me.
So if your reading this be prepared; I
am about to do it again.
Yesterday I read about a school in
Pennsylvania that had a week long celebration of various groups and
cultures, culminating in GLTB awareness events on a Friday. It was
suggested, though not required, that students come that day in
multicolored or rainbow colored shirts to show their support. Most of
the students did ,with two noticeable exceptions. Those two chose to
wear Chick Filet shirts instead. As you can imagine, those two
students were met with much outrage and were reportedly bullied and
threatened by other students via Twitter and personal encounters.
They were told beyond a shadow of a doubt, by fellow students, that
their rights didn't give them the right to be “assholes” and yes
that's a quote. So, if I am understanding this correctly, they have
no rights because they take a differing view of the GLBT community?
Really? Where is that written? It struck me then, as I was reading
this, that the trend, PC free speech, is being taught to our school
age kids now and that's why they would say something like that. You
can't speak or express yourself because it's not politically correct
or not what I believe so get in lock step with the rest of us.. This,
as a small time writer and user of words, seems very sad to me.
I really shouldn't be surprised. We
have been trying to make everything PC for a long time now and we
have spent much of that time pandering and coddling to one of the
most whiniest generations to ever come around. We have gone from
calling our enemies out on a carpet to being afraid that what we say
or draw might offend. How pathetic we have become.
In the end Freedom of Speech stands or
falls depending on what we do with it. If we give in to the PC crowd
it will eventually disappear and we will become a nation of mind
numbed robots who only regurgitate that which we are allowed, but if
we all buck that trend, and really celebrate the diversity of
opinions (notice I didn't say agree with each other) we can put an
end to all this PC silliness and fear, and once again truly embrace
freedom of speech.
I don't think it is so much the LACK of free speech but rather the Application thereof. Yes, we are a PC society and yes, we have the Freedom to SAY whatever we like without being prosecuted. That said, it doesn't mean that there would not be consequences.
ReplyDeleteTerrorists are no more dictating our way of life here in the U. S. by being offended through insults to their prophet than the U.S. military might be by taking offense at Westboro Baptist picketing vets' funerals with "God hates FAGS" signs. Or let me ratchet it up a degree and say someone goes to a Military gathering and as a form of protest drops their pants and defecates on the flag. Any repercussions? Is the military dictating OUR right to free speech? No, no more than those offended Muslims... Repercussions.
So some other examples of FREE SPEECH:
Protest pictures of dead fetuses on signs to a mother going to seek an abortion for a non-viable birth baby or an already dead one;
Being able to walk up to a 6 year old black girl on a sidewalk and saying "Nigger, get out of my way!";
Telling the mother of a child with cerebral palsy out to eat at a restaurant "Why don't you just hold a pillow over its head because I don't want to look at THAT while I am trying to enjoy a night out!";
Or "Why didn't you just volunteer for the oven at Auschwitz? I hate all you sleezy Jews!";
Do you see where I am going with this? Free Speech gives you the right to say this and much, much worse without worry of jail time. But is it RIGHT to do so? Flag offenses bother you as a vet more personally than others. Disability comments maybe if you have someone in your family. But if you stop ALL political correctness - formerly known as COURTESY or KINDNESS or Thinking of the feelings of others, are we no better than animals?
Repercussions...yes, say what you want but remember there may be ramifications. You badmouth the company who gives you a paycheck, then they might just take it away from you.
Guard rails on the side of the road are not there to necessarily hamper your freedoms. Sometimes they are there to protect you from driving off into a ravine you can't see 400 feet down. That said, it may not ALWAYS be the case and we have to use our best judgement for when we should explore for ourselves and when it's OK to go with the PC.
I never said there were no repercussions,, no matter what you say or do, there will always be that. I am saying , that even if you don't like what is being said and or done, such as defecating on the flag, or a Nazi screaming and calling me a "sand nigger" which has happened,if we allow for others to shut us up, i.e. the press the government, because we are being offensive then the terrorist have won. Free speech doesn't guarantee you the right to not be offended and it doesn't stop you from dealing with the repercussions but it must remain as it is. When I hear politicians and pundits, from all the political spectrum suggesting we need to limit free speech, so as to not incite ( pick your own words) where does it stop? Look at the both of us, we come from the same neck of the woods but have differing opinions on many issues yet we can disagree and carry on.Am I threatening you? No and your not doing threatening me, but do we silence each other even if we do? I am certainly glad that people like Ghandi and MLK weren't afraid to speak up even though they knew it could cost them their lives. Free speech has to stay free.
ReplyDeleteOne other small point the terrorists are directing at this point just look at the patriot act, TSA etc. The other thing is you are misunderstanding, I am not saying these people or right for what they said, just saying that they have that right and they should continue to have the right, if they get slapped for it then that becomes a whole separate issue.
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