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  • From: Michael Czeiszperger <michael AT czeiszperger.org>
  • To: "Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/" <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Free speech going
  • Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 21:25:36 -0500


On Jan 15, 2005, at 4:28 PM, Don Rua wrote:

It seems a long-growing tide that has no plans to stop until it is written
into law that we are not allowed to voice our opinion if someone else claims
it is objectionable. i.e., PC as statute. Go to most any 1st grade class,
and you will find teachers, with a full head of passion laser-focused on the
impressionable young minds, giving their daily "this is how good people
think" speech. It continues every year through to college, where the PC crop
is harvested.

The original article about the incident included the following:

-----
The men are founders of Americans for Legal Reform, a group of outspoken advocates who use confrontational tactics to push for greater access to courts for the public and to monitor how well courts serve the public. One tactic is driving a truck around the Huntington area emblazoned with the slogan "Stop The Lawyer Disease." They said their rights to free speech were violated Monday.
-----

The problem with Internet Free Speech Advocates is they want free speech rights to excuse anyone from committing crimes. Regardless of what you think you should be able to do, free speech does not mean you can say anything to anyone anytime. Wether its yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater or sending death threats to your neighbors there are a host of crimes involving "personal expression" which transcend free speech rights. In this particular case the group was most likely trying to get arrested, and they got their wish. Causing a disturbance at any place of work is likely to get you arrested.

Sharing your own opinion is no longer acceptable, if it in any way
criticizes someone else. Every person and group is given a pass on behavior,
because we are all just so wonderful. Dislike is evil. Critical judgement is
verbotten.

On the subject of schools, if students were allowed free speech rights in class practically no teaching could be accomplished. How in the world is a teacher going to keep control over a class when half of 'em are using their free speech rights to express their dislike of other students ethnic or religious beliefs? If you believe that "dislike" should be taught, who gets to decide who or what to dislike? In the end I don't believe "critical judgment" is verboten in schools-- just the type of critical judgment that violates Federal anti-discrimination guidelines, which I feel is totally justified on the grounds of keeping order. Its also good practice for learning what is appropriate or not in the workplace.

___________________________________________________________________
michael at czeiszperger dot org
Chapel Hill, NC USA





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