“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and
silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” – George Washington
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the
right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” —George Orwell
For several years there has been a changing [I would even speculate a 'challenge] of
thought—culturally—about freedom of speech. Younger folks want much less of it
because it seemingly offends them. Freedom of speech is attacked via many
angles not just head on. We have become adept at use of euphemisms to ‘soften
the effect’ of the actual word that would directly explain our thoughts. George
Carlin had a great routine he did exposing political correctness. He died in 2008
and yet much of what he said in the 1990’s is still applicable today with this
exception: it has escalated to a tyrannical obsession! Interestingly, this too
was addressed by actor Charlton Heston who opined: ‘Political Correctness is
Tyranny; Just tyranny with Manners’?
There is no need to itemize the many ways our
speech is now censored, curtailed, monitored and protested all of that is daily
in our face from news and other sources.
What happens now as we approach a time when the elected
leader of the free country of America may be a self-described socialist? How
will you deal with your speech at that time when freedoms are absolutely abated?
If right now, social media algorithms censor speech which doesn’t measure to
the proper level of alleged political correctness as regulated by the 'ordained' yet one sided pillars
of speech, what then? When a comment about a former fascist leader from the 20th
century is removed as a violation of ‘posting’ standards; Or, merely a photo of
that same person is removed and the person’s account that featured it is closed
or put on temporary time out? If, for instance, one was to write a tidbit of truth
germane to some conversation about freedom of speech which showed historically what
happens when freedom of speech is forbidden by some dictatorial leader, what
then? When even the mere allusion to the
example above, as a way to remind people how important it is to be free to
express one’s self is penalized, what then? How can you teach lessons from the past
if your words are censored? Better yet, your words being censored actually turn
out to be disproportionate censuring by the very one who removes it. Then both you and your speech have been wiped.
There are topics that are of no interest to many
of this world. Some people actually have a vehement response to things like
religion, right to keep and bear arms, and now, who you believe to be the most
reliable candidate to support your values! Freedom of speech is verboten in many places,
not by the government so much as by people who have authority over others among
them educational, social media, and sadly, even in our circle of family and
friends. Soon the generation who could have a lively debate between one another
yet walk away with no damage to family or friendships will be gone and the only
example for them will be ostracizing the individual at the very least, or death
for defying acceptable decorum and etiquette as established by the ‘big brother’
class of the time, most generally the oppressive government.
Those who want to continue to enjoy not only their
own freedom of speech but that of others but who continue to be thwarted by ‘time
outs’ must figure out what best to do with their frustration. Exactly which
battle to fight and which one to die on, figuratively speaking, as time passes
and the squeeze on how we self-express is ever constricting.
On November 3rd. 2020, people will cast
a vote for the candidate that best represents their values. It, in and of
itself, is a manner of freedom of speech, or self-expression. If you are leaning
towards democratic socialism, which is actually a mutually exclusive term,
please do your research on the actual historic right to free speech in any of
the known socialist or communist countries during the 20th century
and those now in totalitarian power around the world. There are historic and
current iconic photos of young people standing up to their tyrannical
governments wishing to express their freedom of speech. In those countries
things remain the same for decades. So, what about western nations who are voting
for ‘democratic socialism’? They believe it is some utopia where ideally everyone
will simply embrace their speech restrictions. And if they don’t? Reeducation centers
will help them.
The word ‘construct’ has become synonymous with what
one believes then being framed by a person’s assigned identity. For instance, now
my years of life on earth where my belief has been formed through empirical, experiential
and intuitive knowledge actually frames my worldview. Am I not the sum of a
life of my own observations or am I reduced to my assigned identity as a specific
ethnic, religious, gender, age thus? What if I am from an era already redefined
by revisionists as hate filled whose sense of pride in this country is colored
with such terminology as racism, bigotry, etcetera? See, while I was raised by
two parents in a home with 3 siblings and a four legged canine family member in
a small town and taught the wonder and privilege of being born in this country; because I hail
a specific religion, I adhere to my beliefs faithfully, am married to a veteran
who shares my values about family, faith and pride of country; the construct
foisted upon us is that of ‘white privilege’ and ‘racism’. And frankly, that
entire construct is altogether inapplicable in our case. Yet, the frustrations
we feel when we see an entire culture just wholly accepting such thoughts almost
as if via osmosis, is sad to watch. Sooner than we think, an entire generation
of people will be so inculcated with notions which run antithetically to
freedoms and rights they will not be able to comprehend what independence in
all things and pride in one’s individualism and uniqueness actually looks like,
feels like and is like. When they care more that a calf needs its milk so dairy
farmers should be closed down than a baby being murdered via abortion any
moment from conception to after being born -- the values of that generation and
possibly the generation itself will be doomed.
How do we forestall that unsatisfactory reality? Perhaps,
by teaching everyone what free speech really is; by living an independent and individual
life; by making sure we inculcate in young minds the idea that their elders
have much to share in knowledge and wisdom and their choice to live the beauty
of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, to experience a truly free press [not
governed by corporate agendas designed to garner maximum dollars], the freedom
to gather together and the freedom to redress our government when we feel they
have wronged us. It means they know implicitly the only way to secure all our
freedoms is by way of the second amendment which ‘shall not be infringed’. When
they inquire of us why and how we can think and act the way we do -- we take
the time to explore why and what they refer to that you may clearly explain with
the answer they seek. Be sure to remind them they have a right to form their
own opinions and those opinions can be changed with more information. To be
fair, this is important to do with all people who object to your life. We have
individual rights – not collective rights. We have equal rights but not all
things happen equally.
Do not sheepishly paw at the ground in
frustration. EXPRESS YOURSELF!
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reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s
intent to make a judgment of anyone.
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