Our most fundamental freedom and right is the right to free speech. It is articulated in the First Amendment to the US Constitution:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
With few exceptions, all speech is protected, including hate speech:
The Supreme Court has identified categories of speech that are unprotected by the First Amendment and may be prohibited entirely. Among them are obscenity, child pornography, and speech that constitutes so-called “fighting words” or “true threats.”
Freedom of speech has a long history in America. However, now, for the first time, we are experiencing demonstrations that seem to be targeting speech itself. For example, this is true of recent demonstrations at Berkeley, University of California and at New York University. They haven’t targeted specific issues, but more dangerously targeted speech itself. At times, they have been violent all the while claiming freedom of speech for themselves and their actions. This is wrong. Freedom of speech does not include a right to assault people or damage property.
Democracy is a marketplace of ideas that relies on the influx of new ideas of all kinds. When this stream of ideas lessons, democracy begins to die. Freedom of speech is absolute. It’s not a partial right. Giving more of it to someone doesn’t lesson it for someone else. Like voting, freedom of speech is the birthright of every American citizen, but like all rights, it comes with responsibilities. For each of us to fully enjoy freedom of speech, it’s critical that we recognize this right for others no matter how they and their ideas are different from ours. They can say what they want! We all can! If we support this right and defend this right for others, then our own is assured.
ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES who swore allegiance to the US Constitution, and to protect it, have a special duty to speak out when freedom of speech is infringed by anyone. When this happens, and especially when some use violence to prevent speech, those actions are hypocritical, disgusting, and un-American.
THE MEDIA has a special opportunity and obligation to speak out when the right to free speech is threatened. Their historical responsibility as the “4th branch of government” demands condemnation of any action or effort to block speech whether it is from the left, right, or the middle. In recent times, the media hasn’t alway been unbiased and alert to the importance of fulfilling this role and their responsibility.
AS VOTERS, it is our job to monitor and ensure that the public servants, elected representatives, and the media do their job. After all, effective voting relies on the right to free speech. It is the ultimate free speech. Political disagreements, and losses in elections, do not impact or lesson our duty to protect this RIGHT.
. . . remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her. America’s best days are ahead of her. They always have been and always will be.
Dave
Copyright © 2017 by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.
