Freedom of Expression

The First Amendment, we are so regularly told, protects our freedom of speech. This is of course generally a good thing, and without doubt one of the reasons behind the strength of our Republic. Still, can it really mean the right to say anything we want to anyone, at any time or manner we choose? Especially in the light of the recent attacks in Tucson, it does seem a good time to explore the content and intent of our speech.

It strikes me that decorum and consideration of our surroundings ought to play some role in our talk, and that such ideas deserve their day. Does anyone really want to insult friends, or even adversaries, when the situation simply does not require the full expression of our thoughts? Perhaps we become nothing more than busybodies when we comment on things which may not be any of our business.

Yet even in political discourse I believe that a line may be crossed. Portraying Barack Obama as Hitler is as unfair as portraying George W. Bush as Hitler, and ultimately nothing more than inflammatory. It cannot help forward political debate; consequently, is it truly wise to use such divisive imagery even if within one's rights to do so?

Yet it happens all the time on both sides of the aisle. It has indeed happened across the political spectrum since the dawn of our nation. Even the current President has used inflammatory speech, when he said during the 2008 campaign that you bring in a gun when your opponent has a knife during in a fight. Still, that we have survived it so far cannot truly justify certain forms of talk, innuendo, and outright insult.

Just something that we need to consider as debate rages on in the political and personal arenas of our lives. Even without any causal connection between shrill rhetoric and insane action, we must ask ourselves whether we should express ourselves that way, or if, perhaps, we are better than that.