When Did Freedom of Speech Go the Other Way?

When did we completely confuse freedom of speech for people being required to agree with liberal beliefs?

I’m bringing this up tonight because of Duck Dynasty. First of all, let me say, I absolutely hate this show. While I might occasionally enjoy reality shows, I don’t enjoy staged reality shows. Think “Cops’ over “Lizard Lick Towing”.

Next, let me say, I absolutely think Phil Robertson is 100% retarded and that none of his opinions are valid and true. I think if you are lucky enough to find love in this world, then you should take it where you can get it and not be conflicted over what some 10,000 book recommends, especially when that book advocates stoning your slaves and whoring out your teenage daughters.

But regardless of how retarded I think Phil Robertson’s opinions are, he absolutely has the right to those opinions. I mean, are we honestly surprised that a dude who looks like this;

has a problem with gay marriage?

Phil Robertson voicing his opinion when someone asks him a direct question about that opinion isn’t a fucking crime. He might be wrong, but hell, with the exception of me, most people are wrong in this country on a daily basis.

No one is required to agree with you. That’s what freedom of speech is all about.

The world doesn’t change by suppressing someone’s freedom of speech. The world changes when citizens demand new legislation to protect freedom… period. When you oppress the opinion of one person because they don’t agree with your viewpoint, you actually go from being part of the solution, to part of the problem.

I think like this. Does anyone remember Loving Vs. Virginia? Back when it was illegal for black and whites to intermarry? Those laws didn’t go away because some reality show got cancelled when a died-in-the-wool bigot made their opinion clear to the news media. Those laws went away because two people who loved each other fought for love.

I.e. you don’t get your way in this country by suppressing the statements of the 1% of bigots. You get your way by making it clear to the other 99% of the public that what and who you love is right.

Eventually, gay marriage will be free and recognized. I think we all know this by now. But don’t undermine your opinions by becoming the oppressors you hate so much. That is not the way to do it.

A&E made a mistake when they cancelled ‘Duck Dynasty”. They didn’t make a mistake by canceling a sucky show. They didn’t make a mistake by trying to please their fans. Where they made a mistake was when they undermined free speech.

Let me remind you of a particular quote that is very important to me, by Mr. Martin Niemöller.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out–

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out–

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out–

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me–and there was no one left to speak for me.

A long time ago, it would have been a danger to speak out regarding the rights of gay marriage. So few people did. Now, the majority of the American public supports gay marriage, and suddenly it’s not ok for people who don’t support it to speak out?

That’s not ok with me, and that was not what one of the principal beliefs that this country was founded on. Just because an opinion is conservative does not suddenly make it invalid. It just means someone disagrees with you.

Deal with it in your response, rather than trying to squash their freedom of speech.

A benevolent dictatorship is still a dictatorship. Refusing to allow people to say what they believe because ‘it isn’t liberal enough’ is still refusing to allow people to say what they believe. I don’t care how you try to pretty it up.

That’s oppression people.

Tonight I end you off with a quote from a kick ass chick, who often doesn’t get the credit she deserves, Ms. Evelyn Beatrice Hall;

‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

That’s what freedom of speech is about people. It’s not about only accepting the opinions that agree with yours. It’s about dealing with the fact that someone might disagree with you…but still doesn’t deserve to be ostracized because of it.