Thought it was time for this reminder  

Freedom of Speech

Many people in the USA  are very proud to say.... they live in the greatest and freest nation in the world !  But how true is that ?

Yes you can say it 's true that you are able  to think, act and speak as you wish, but when such freedom is not supported by wisdom, human beings can behave worse than animals.  ( Just check out any Chat room especially those with out chat policies or rules.)

Although human beings, yes even americans, are unique and intelligent, when they lack wisdom, they often misuse their so-called freedom for the wrong purpose.

For me, giving such so-called Freedom of Speech to people who don't have the right knowledge and the right training is like giving sharp knives to children. What can a child do with a sharp knife? He will either hurt himself or hurt others.

According to my view, such freedom doesn't really mean too much. You are legally empowered to be free to say  what  you  want, but within yourself, you are not free at all!

Most people want to exercise their right to  Freedom of Speech but don't want to take responsibilities. But freedom is inseparable from responsibility ! Just because you have the right ,  doesn't mean  it is right.

If  you have the freedom to think, it is your responsibility to think positively. If you have the freedom to speak, it is your responsibility to speak properly and meaningfully. If you have the freedom to act, it is your responsibility to act correctly.

Unfortunatley most of us do not take any responsibility for what we  think , do and say.  We always find excuses for ourselves and put the blame on others or on circumstances. It is of course easier to blame others .

I believe in freedom of speech. Something that irritates me, however, is the misconception that to decry someone else's views is tantamount to denying them freedom of speech. I've been in arguments where I've disagreed quite vehemently with someone, and then been charged with censorship for disagreeing!

Freedom of speech doesn't mean no one can take you to task for what you say -- it means you get to say what you think, and other people get to say what they think if they disagree. Freedom of speech does not mean speech without responsibility.

Why is it that some people think  Freedom of Speech means freedom from responsibility in exercising that right ?

There are those, who tend to forget that they are held accountable for their words (or should be). That there are laws against libel and slander . Just as in life rules, limitations, and boundaries guard against physical anarchy (e.g., traffic laws, social graces), so too limitations exist to guard against verbal incivility.

The advent of the Internet with it's blogs, chat rooms and message boards, has seen a staggering growth in the potential for the freedom of speech and expression to people throughout the world.

Sadly, in some quarters, this same freedom is being abused and used irresponsibly as a smoke screen to communicate in a vulgar, profane, violent, and insulting manner.

A Question or 2 for the Americans who hold  Freedom of Speech in such high regard:
Is your freedom of speech absolute? Can you say whatever you want, whenever you want?
--No. The language of the First Amendment has been interpreted by the Supreme Court so that in certain specific circumstances the government is able to limit your right to freedom of speech because it infringes on the rights of others.

Freedom of speech and press, does not mean freedom from responsibility and accountability for what one says and writes.
Those  writers, who hide behind pseudonames and concocted, unreachable emails, and whose postings are or should be  deleted, do not have the guts to handle  Freedom of Speech.

One of the earliest Western defences of freedom of expression is Areopagitica (1644) by the English poet and political writer John Milton.

Milton wrote in reaction to an attempt by the English republican parliament to prevent "seditious, unreliable, unreasonable and unlicensed pamphlets".

Milton advanced a number of arguments in defence of freedom of speech: a nation's unity is created through blending individual differences rather than imposing homogeneity from above; that the ability to explore the fullest range of ideas on a given issue was essential to any learning process and truth cannot be arrived upon unless all points of view are first considered; and that by considering free thought, censorship acts to the detriment of material progress.

Milton also argued that if the facts are laid bare, truth will defeat falsehood in open competition, but this cannot be left for a single individual to determine. According to Milton, it is up to each individual to uncover their own truth; no one is wise enough to act as a censor for all individuals. (8)

Noam Chomsky states that: "If you believe in freedom of speech, you believe in freedom of speech for views you don't like. Stalin and Hitler, for example, were dictators in favor of freedom of speech for views they liked only.

If you're in favor of freedom of speech, that means you're in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise." (9)

An often cited quote that describes the principle of freedom of speech comes from Evelyn Beatrice Hall (often mis-attributed to Voltaire) "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it," as an illustration of Voltaire's beliefs. (10)

Thanks for this, Melly.

I may have the right to freedom of speech, but I also have responsibility for the consequences of what I say.  If I yell "FIRE!!!" in a crowded theatre, I am responsible for the stampede to the exits.  It is the same in dealing with others -- I am responsible for words that hurt, attack, praise or extol anyone I speak to. 

Though I sometimes say that I killed off the brain cell that served as a filter between my brain and my tongue, I do try to avoid hurting others -- besides, I really hate having to make amends! LOL

****Sniff --- Sniff --  Why do I smell troll crap again? ****

From this and a couple of other posts I see it sounds like we have had another sick individual (may be more) using the right of freedom speech as the mask to hide a twisted attempt to spread hatred, and act out their warpped need for attention.

I may not always agree with the powers that be here on the realm. But the one thing I do agree with is the need to provide a safe, healthy environment where we can work together for our recovery. I’ve seen a lot of folk come here with their heads and hearts trapped in the insanity of this disease and because of the safe, caring environment here they find in this place they to begin to heal.

I know for me if, I came here barely sober and heard someone apostatizing one religion or another, pressing a political agenda, playing little vindictive games, trying to sell Amway or doing anything but placing the focus on the labor of love and the joy of recovery I would have turned tail and run.

The grim truth here, when someone in early recovery turns tail and runs, it may cost them their life.

This is not a simple oen chat room here for on line flirting or trying to impress others with you imaginary prowess. It's about real people in recovery trying to help other find the life saving (and life building) solution we share in recovery.

I am a vet, I was (and still am) ready to give my life if necessary to protect those rights granted in the US constitution (and many other progressive countries, including Canada) and do what I can to help those freedoms spread to other countries. But those rights come with a mandate of responsibility, and unfortunately, in our world, responsibility seems to be a dirty word.

Mell, Skye and the crew here have to take an extra measure of responsibility because so many of the folk that wander in here are not capable of being responsible for themselves. In that I am grateful for their efforts.

I do know that the safe space I have here, where I can come in and be open and honest about where I am and what happening in my life has been a Godsend. If I had to really worry about some malicious troll lurking here I would not have that freedom.

Hobie

DOS 9/22/90