In America, Our Rights Are a Double-Edged Sword
As Americans, we have rights. In fact, we have a lot of them, especially compared to people in many other countries.
While we value those rights dearly and would not want to live in any country where they don’t exist… we recognize that they can be a double-edged sword.
For example, some of those rights give us the perfectly legal standing to do and say things that some people find deplorable. And, of course, they give others the freedom to do and say things we find despicable.
Evelyn Beatrice Hall is credited with saying, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
The English writer used that phrase in a book she authored titled The Friends of Voltaire. But it sounds much like something one of our Founding Fathers would have said, doesn’t it?
We Can’t Use Our Rights to Do Wrong
When someone shouts from the rooftops that they love America or that taxes are too high and or that needless government intrusions on our private lives must end… we might applaud and encourage them. And we certainly believe strongly in their right to say those kinds of things.
Where it gets trickier is when someone spews forth what we view as anti-patriotic rhetoric we find deplorable. Or statements of what we perceive to be hatred. Or when an NFL player sits down during the National Anthem… and eats a banana to demonstrate his contempt for the country that provides him with his freedoms.
I don’t know about you, but the first reaction that pops into my head is to tell those people to find another country in which to live. And there are times when I’ve said exactly that.
But is that the right response? Do we really want laws that keep people from doing and saying things, just because we don’t agree with them?
America – Love It Or… Criticize It
The bottom line is, you have to take the good with the bad in America. As well as in every other freedom-loving nation. If you wish to exercise your liberty, you have to allow others to do the same. And that’s regardless of how you feel about them and their words or actions.
The Great American Experiment has proven to be an emotional roller coaster ride. The ups have been inspiring and exhilarating. The downs have been chilling and challenging. But it’s a ride I don’t ever want to end.
I continue to believe that the United States of America is the greatest country in the history of the world.
And I strongly believe that future historians will see it the same way.
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When an NFL player sits down during the National Anthem he is calling attention to the direction the
Prez is taking us all.
No less than Teddy Roosevelt a great Patriot has said ” It is the DUTY of every citizen to question the direction our leaders take us”. Our DUTY.
I once worked with a Russian guy who escaped from communist Russia. He was always critising the US. I finally got tired of hearing it, so I said “If you don’t like it, why don’t you go back to Russia? His answer was simple; “In Russia, I cant complain! That says it all.
That’s great, Ronald. Thanks for sharing that. And you’re right… some people love to complain, and I guess he found a place where he could do it freely.
Of course we have, and should have, the right of free speech; but we do not have the right to yell “FIRE!” in a crowded theater, when there is no fire. What we are facing today are folks who not only scream “Fire!,” but also deny my right to point out that there is no fire, and to explain why I believe screaming such a fraudulent warning endangers fellow citizens. In fact, many of our once-great academic institutions and news media have foreclosed the right to even debate such issues. This wounds all free people. Left unchallenged, that wound will fester, and set in motion a train of events that will destroy all that free people hold dear.
only certain colors have freedom of speech rights in America & that is SHAMEFUL & against our Constitution!! The Native American were voiceless for centuries & treated MUCH worse than any other humans in our country
You are right on. Freedom of speech is for all, what is not acceptable, is lawlessness and destruction and violence attached to free speech. That is unacceptable and must be stopped. We all have to be greater than this, this is one nation under God with liberty and justice for ALL.
Robert Boyd,
That was very well said!! THANK YOU for your uplifting words!
Very well said!
We can solve the whole north Korean conflict by having our pouting president have a sneaky money laundering arrangement with a North Korean bank,just as he probably does with his boss Putin and the russians. Then everything will be just lovey-dovey.
By far the best commentary I have read on this site. It is poignant but not divisive. Everybody is entitled to their opinion and to express it. Otherwise, freedom is just a word. We don’t have to agree but should agree to disagree.
I whole heartedly agree that everyone has a right to free speech. However no one has the right to incite a riot. I believe that was the intent of the white supremacists, the kkk and the neo nazis. They came with weapons torches and makeshift riot gear. This was not an exercise in free speech this was a set up to create havoc. I would like to see no one show up at their “rallies” . No counter protestors, no observers, no media. What if they had a riot and nobody came? To paraphrase an old anti war poster. These haters are not worth our time or attention, the rest of us have better things to do than indulging these adult children begging for attention.
ANTIFA, Black Lives Matter,Southern Poverty Law Center, and all of the non-profit “RESIST”Org’s are Democratic and Radical Leftist’s funded by George Soros. He is an ACTUAL NAZI……THEY also showed up armed to the teeth…..However, you don’t seem to have any problem with that ? To be so ignorant that one only believes that racism is just a “WHITE” problem proves the facts that you aren’t even bothering to look at BOTH sides that are involved in ANY dispute.
Thank You. God Bless America
Thank you for reminding us of the other side of the coin in this country’s heritage. My family is Scandinavian, so I at least know “where to go back to.” Most Americans are such a mix they wouldn’t know where to go. And they have the right of freedom of speech which includes criticism of the government. I am a patriot and I love my country but I have not been impressed with the government in many decades. To paraphrase. .. Democracy failed when corporations became citizens and freedom of speech became money. Help fix the problem by petitioning for Senate term limitations to 2 terms and reigning in “retirement” benifits for 2-4 year of work. No other occupations have a benefit package so ridiculous and neither should politicians. I have no idea how big a bite that would take out of national debt but I am sure it would be substantial.