HATE SPEECH OR JUST FREE SPEECH

I have been an opinion writer for several years. In those years I have been published in quite a few newspapers. I have probably offended some people. I also have made some happy. Opinion writing is a classic example of the practice of free speech. Needless to say, I am a strong advocate of free speech. 

 

While I never intentionally tried to offend anybody sometimes it happens. After all, not everyone has the same opinion. But, at the same time, we are not guaranteed the right not to be offended. We seem to have in this country what I call, "The society of the perpetually offended." They look for ways to be offended. And they usually don't have to look far. 

 

Not being deterred by a little thing called the First Amendment to the Constitution, it was recently reported that a group from some liberal college wants the Biden Administration to put limits on free speech. They identify what they call "hate speech" as speech that needs to be eliminated. 

 

A reasonable question here is what exactly is hate speech? Well, it turns out that hate speech is any speech which they either don't like or just disagree with. They don't like any speech that refers to God, or religion, or traditional America, or law and order, or anything said by a conservative American. They prefer living their lives in a bubble. 

 

The state of Florida just passed a law which puts some serious limits on violent demonstrations. Well guess what, the perpetually offended say this new law limits their free speech. They apparently want to be free to destroy businesses and any public property they choose if those things get in the way of their free opportunity to destroy. This seems to be their definition of speech. 

 

Well, I've got some bad news for these "snowflakes". This is America. We are a free country governed by law and order. You have the right to swing your fist through the air, but that right ends just short of my nose. 

 

If I am broadcasting a speech that you don't like, you have the right to change the station, but you don't have the right to prevent someone else from hearing the speech. You don't have to listen, but you have no right to determine what any other free American can hear.  

 

It is difficult to understand where all this nonsense came from, but a reasonable guess is the college or university they attend. We are rapidly coming to the point where these overeducated, underproven, youngsters need to get a cram course in American history. In addition to history we might need to include a course in world geography. These snowflakes may need direction to another place to live. A place more compatible with their belief system. America is never going to satisfy them. 

 

Meanwhile, the rest of us traditional Americans will live our lives as we always have, enjoying the freedoms our military has fought for and continues to fight to keep. The youngsters will either grow up and join us, or they will live lives of dissatisfaction and disappointment. They should also remember that free choice of where to live is guaranteed. 

 

Ron Scarbro May 4, 2021