We believe all forms of speech — written, spoken, symbolic, what have you — should be free unless there's a victim. And there's rarely a "victim" of speech.
Sorry, you're not a "victim" simply because you're offended.
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Who deserves freedom of speech?
And who doesn't?
by Helen & Harry Highwater, Unknown News
Oct. 1, 2003
Who deserves freedom of speech? The short answer is: Everyone.
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Americans should have freedom of speech, and Zimbabweans and Cubans and Iraqis should have freedom of speech, too. Anyone who wants to say something should be free to say it.
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Freedom of speech is both beautiful (everyone gets to speak their minds) and ugly (some people will always be saying despicable, awful things). Sometimes it's painful, as good and evil ideas clash loudly.
Sometimes it's hard to tell which ideas are good and which are evil, so the more they're allowed to clash, the better it is for everyone.
Bigotry, for example, is stupendously stupid — but freedom of speech must include the right to say stupendously stupid things. You can't outlaw insults, and pretend you're living in a free society.
Freedom of speech isn't just for words and ideas we like.
When anyone claims the legal or moral right to punish others for simply having, writing, or voicing the wrong thoughts, that's reprehensible. That's the antithesis of freedom.
The only forms of speech that can justifiably be censored are direct announcements of violent intent ("I will kill you," for example, should — if said sincerely — be prosecuted as a threat), and violations of privacy (for example, audio or video recordings of actual rapes, murders, or other such crimes should be suppressed at the victim's request).
Even these examples, however, approach a gray zone, and much leeway needs to be allowed. "I will kill you" is said jokingly or rhetorically far more often than it's meant literally. Actors or advanced technology can be used to craft remarkably realistic-looking artificial rapes, murders, and other crimes, which certainly should not be prosecuted.
We believe all forms of speech — written, spoken, symbolic, what have you — should be free unless there's a victim. And there's rarely a "victim" of speech.
Sorry, you're not a "victim" simply because you're offended.
If you're offended, point at what's offended you and shout, "That's offensive!" But it's wrong to censor someone, just because you disagree with what they're saying.
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When free speech is denied to hatemongers, holocaust-deniers, and other unsavory sorts, everyone should be terrified, because anyone could be next.
Perhaps you've heard the poetic prayer of the German pastor, Martin Niemoller:"In Germany they first came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me — and by that time no one was left to speak up."
When they come for the holocaust deniers and racists, prosecuting them for the stupidity they've said or written, it's the first step toward rounding up the communists and the Jews and the rest of us — anyone who's said anything the authorities consider stupid or bad or reprehensible.
Some people do think reprehensible thoughts, of course, and write reprehensible books, and make reprehensible speeches. Some people always have, and some people always will. But each of us must be free to decide for ourselves what's reprehensible.
Either we decide for ourselves, or someone else will decide for us ... and eliminate 'bad thinking' ... by investigating and arresting people who meet this year's definition of 'bad.'
Freedom of speech must include the freedom to say reprehensible, offensive, rude, demeaning, and otherwise stupid things. And it must also (of course) include the right to argue, sneer at, demean, and make fun of people who say such stupid things (we're certainly in favor of that!).
But freedom of speech cannot include legal sanctions against people who think, say, or write the wrong thoughts. When you cross that line, you're working against freedom, and future totalitarians will appreciate your work.
© 2003, by the author.
Comments? newsuneed@yahoo.com
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