Recently I have come to the realization that more and more people accept the notion of freedom of speech as a freedom only when they agree with what is being said. If they agree with the statement or the piece of writing then they are more than ready to back it up with a statement regarding freedom of speech and the right to voice one's own opinion. But as soon as something is said that they disagree with or think is wrong then the idea of freedom of speech is completely forgotten. Now my thoughts may be a bit blurred but hopefully you can understand what I am saying here. It is simply that people bring this particular right into conversation only when it suits them. But isnt that the complete opposite of what a right is supposed to stand for?
While reading another blog earlier, (and I hate to bring someone else's opinion into my own writing so I apolgize if the author is reading this) the author was talking about the United States General who spoke out about homosexuality in the Army. To begin with, homosexuality is clearly a very taboo subject within the United States. It often times seems to be on par with abortion and stem cell research. But even so, people speak about it on a daily basis. To say that what the General said is an opinion is correct. He was speaking out about his own true feelings and opinions. To deny him of that right would be going against his own constitutional rights. He spoke as eloquently as he could, given the subject, and did not resort to name calling or rude remarks. But even if he had it would have been within his own rights to do so. But yet people that do not agree with what was said wrote his words off words against the constitutional rights of homosexuals. Now dont get me wrong, I do not agree with the statements made but I refuse to write them off as anything but free speech. If you feel that speaking out about something that a person strongly believes in is right then there is no reason why this man's words should be crushed. Just because it does not agree with what you would have said does not make it inconsequential.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
