Freedom of Speech: An Endangered Species

English Pravda ^ | 12/25/2013 | David R. Hoffman

[sevinufnine]

Although most Americans claim to venerate the ideal of freedom of speech when it comes to actual practice there are few purists.

Unfortunately, most so-called advocates of freedom of speech in America subscribe to four basic rules:

1) Revere freedom of speech when you agree with what is being said, and revile it when you don't

2) Don't gauge the offensiveness of speech by what was said, but by whether it supports or contradicts your political, religious, social, and/or economic agendas

3) Realize that your hypocrisy will be camouflaged by the failure or refusal of most people to engage their long-term memories

4) Know that the right to free speech is only relevant when one has the political or economic resources to utilize it.

[sevinufnine]

Academics and intellectuals, who could actually contribute some substance to the national discourse, are banished to Public Television Networks and other low rated venues.

Why? Because their views are normally not conducive to being reduced to sound bites. Nor are they entertaining to the pseudo-journalistic world, which favors emotion over reason, ignorance over intelligence, superficiality over substance, hypocrisy over honesty, and propaganda over truth.

[WayneS]

For the most part it is LEFTIST so-called advocates of freedom of speech in America who subscribe to those four basic rules.

REAL advocates of free speech simply subscribe to the freedoms bestowed upon us by our creator, and guaranteed us in the 1st Amendment to our Constitution.

[cloudmountain]

There has never really been completely free speech. We all know that. We take care of what we say for many reasons.
However, it's nice to have a place where one can state one's contradictory-to-the-status-quo opinions, rant/rave and not be reviled. It doesn't change anything because human nature doesn't change.

Human action can be modified to some extent, but human nature cannot be changed. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, speech, Feb. 27, 1860

[gattaca]

save

[allendale]

One of the reasons the Left collapsed was that their politically correct speech restrictions stifled open discussion, necessary criticism, creativity and the resolution of problems or innovation. Sadly if Americans place themselves in that same straitjacket, our fate will be similar.

[Navy Patriot]

For the most part it is LEFTIST so-called advocates of freedom of speech in America who subscribe to those four basic rules.

Bingo.

sevin, you didn't see this goin' in? Academics, "intellectuals" and Public Broadcasting are almost universally to the left of Marx.

Still including Pravda.

[sevinufnine]

“For the most part it is LEFTIST so-called advocates of freedom of speech in America who subscribe to those four basic rules.”

I agree, but sadly the Right/conservatives are too often silent when freedom of speech is infringed upon. Hence the reason this problem is getting worse and liberals are having a hay day with their crazy agendas.

[lavaroise]

Watch the money fund raising trail leading to Nero or the gay Ptolemy. All tyrants were gay or closet gays of sorts. Slavery was based in at least emotional forms of sodomy.

[sevinufnine]

All I can say is if I want an unbiased story on events (be it political, some terrible mass murder, economic, or otherwise) I have to go to overseas news to get the facts because they don’t post them here...just a bunch of vague references and “no comment” junk. (I’m excluding Free Republic of course from the junk sites.)

[Navy Patriot]

All I can say is if I want an unbiased story on events...I have to go to overseas news to get the facts because they don’t post them here...

OK, I see your logic, but remember, they are NOT unbiased, they are differently biased for their particular purpose, which is different from the American MSM, thus the different facts.

[sevinufnine]

I cannot doubt your statement, but do believe it’s not possible for 99% of the population to speak or write anything without some sort of bias/opinion/way of thinking, etc. Just the world we live in. I guess I could be more accurate stating I find more interesting facts (biased or not) that I’m unable to get on the liberal sites or stations here.

[Sergio]

bookmark

[Navy Patriot]

... do believe it’s not possible for 99% of the population to speak or write anything without some sort of bias/opinion/way of thinking, etc. Just the world we live in.

Excellent, agree,...I spoke too soon, you've got it handled.

I guess I could be more accurate stating I find more interesting facts (biased or not) that I’m unable to get on the liberal sites or stations here.

Nah, I should have known, I go to the same for the same reason.