It can be dangerous to engage in free speech. This year alone, 242 journalists, in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, have been tossed into jail for their words, and one has been killed.
Here at home, our bodies remain free, but our tongues are imprisoned. As Dan Rather stated after 9/11, "Patriotism has run amok." Reminiscent of Joe McCarthy's "red hysteria," we are told to shut up, salute the flag, and applaud White House policy during this "war on terror." Otherwise we risk being branded un-American.
Political satirist Bill Maher was publicly skewered and lost his show "Politically Incorrect." The Dixie Chicks were plucked off the radio, and a 33,000 pound tractor was used to crush their CDs in a public protest. The latest casualty in the "word witch hunt" is University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill who likened some World Trade Center victims to Nazi bureaucrat Adolf Eichmann, and who may lose his tenured position as a result. A number of journalists in America have lost their jobs.
Rather than examine the flaws or merits of their controversial speech, I will present three questions for further reflection.
First, is it patriotic to parrot the cheers choreographed by a Commander-in-Chief? Or was Thomas Jefferson correct when he wrote, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism"?
If one believes our nation's policies to be in error, isn't the path of courage to speak out, the path of cowardice to remain silent? Should one go down with the Titanic, if one may have a strategy for keeping it afloat, regardless of how much it might inconvenience or enrage the other passengers? Is it possible that those who have been demonized for uttering so-called seditious words are in some way assisting our country, whether for right or wrong, giving us a perspective that we may have otherwise overlooked?
Perhaps the freedom of speech amendment is First because the ability to speak openly is largely what it means to be American. The paradox is that the most outspoken polemicist can be both courageously loyal and yet demonized as a traitor. In fact, two true patriots can present diametrically opposed arguments at the same time. Parrots, on the other hand, have only one general line.
Secondly, is the "war on terror" really a war, and how does this impact freedom of speech? Traditionally, wars are armed conflicts between sovereign states; now we have declared war on an emotion, terror. Our soldiers are fighting and dying, but because the war is against "terror," it can never end. Terror, like drugs and poverty, cannot be entirely eliminated. Since the battle cannot end, does our silence never end? Can we never again speak against U.S. policy?
Thirdly, is it possible that slurs directed at individuals for their "lack of patriotism" are nothing more than political maneuvers, meant to gain power and discredit one's opponents? Democrats also use this tactic against Republicans, such as when Michael Moore said, "They are not patriots. They are hate-riots."
Yet, Republicans are viewed as the more patriotic party, thus enjoy greater success with this marginalizing technique. We should beware of suspicious labels and partisan motives that relegate ones political adversaries to the enemy's cave, to a conspiratorial pact with Bin Laden.
For each individual whose speech is targeted, there are no doubt hundreds, if not thousands, who censor innovative thoughts before attempting to offer them in the marketplace of ideas.
The next time you hear the word "unpatriotic" or "un-American" tossed about, do not accept. Question. Think about censorship and self-censorship. Think about whether you want our country to have a staple menu of bread and water or one listing many flavorful dishes.
Think about whether you believe in Voltaire's idea, "I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" or Ari Fleisher's idea that all Americans should "watch what they say" in this time of crisis.
Think about whether you want a land of parrots or one of patriots.
Charlotte Laws, Ph.D. is a syndicated columnist, a member of the Greater Valley Glen Council and the president of the league for earth and animal protection (leap). Her political website is league for earth and animal protection (leap)
disinfecting cleaning services Winnetka ..As I read the papers and watch the news day... Read More
What has really changed in the housing market with regards... Read More
Due to the bizarre weather patterns this winter California got... Read More
Close to 500,000 people - one in four - live... Read More
California Attorneys and politicians are to blame for the energy... Read More
ACCREDITATION: - Scholastic regimentation from the post WWII period has... Read More
With the recent shakeups in the presidential cabinet, it has... Read More
In this day and age of tattletale, whistleblower heroes and... Read More
The news media will regularly present views from Democratic (liberal),... Read More
In an effort to assist our political leadership it would... Read More
Public utilities and a problematic issue on the allowance of... Read More
Water Conservation in larger cities is less of an issue... Read More
Capitalism as the social structure was founded in order to... Read More
Publicity is correlative to your position in the community. Seldom... Read More
Airlines do not allow cell phones on board, but they... Read More
There is nothing-absolutely nothing-insofar as political power when it is... Read More
Do you really want to get ahead in your life?... Read More
When we go through periods of droughts we also have... Read More
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development issued a report... Read More
The TSA seems to have completely missed the ball at... Read More
Large parts of the world today suffer from a severe... Read More
When were the forms of media created? When did advertising... Read More
The other day I was sucker punched, hoodwinked, bamboozled, had... Read More
Kudos goes out to the George Walker Bush's Administration and... Read More
The idea is to have all the important items with... Read More
last minute cleaning help Highland Park ..Tulipmania - this is the name coined for the first... Read More
In a recent report on the status of the Franchising... Read More
Well the title is absolute Bull Crap, but this article... Read More
Public utilities and a problematic issue on the allowance of... Read More
After the dance the piper must be paid. To help... Read More
The use of homosexual men in the area of espionage... Read More
We can all see the issues involved in the cloning... Read More
Alexander Hamilton ? Policy Separated from Politics:I am related to... Read More
Richard Nixon was by far a most fascinating and colorful... Read More
The City of Portland is going after any small business,... Read More
When were the forms of media created? When did advertising... Read More
This, of course, is a political decision. There is no... Read More
We have known of the innate characteristic need of members... Read More
I'm starting to feel squeezed by all the political correctness... Read More
Many are condemning the latest GM Terminator seeds. Yet there... Read More
Aren't you glad you purchased Alaska? You got a bargain,... Read More
Journalism, as it is often said, is the 'fourth branch... Read More
The official figures are staggering: 35% of the workforce -... Read More
The Randolphs:Peyton Randolph was the first President of the United... Read More
The United States has enemies, which call the country the... Read More
"The only time I open my mouth is when I... Read More
Most politicians are completely out to lunch and totally Machiavellian... Read More
The more I study the dynamics of WWII the more... Read More
Blessed with Chinese GDP growth rates (7-8% annually in each... Read More
It never fails to amaze me. HM Customs and Excise... Read More
Political |