Censorship

Many public officials have, in the past months, called for the censorship of “hate” speech. It’s a shame I don’t know what hate speech is. But more importantly I don’t know who gets to decide what hate speech is – and that’s the real rub. Because once we start limiting words and thoughts, the first amendment to our Constitution goes right out the window.

Amendment I.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

These 40+ words are some of the most powerful ever codified in a document.  You can say anything about anything and the government cannot do a damn thing about it. Could your free speech get you punched in the nose? Sure! But the government cannot tell you not to say it, they can’t put you in jail for saying it, and they cannot put you to death for saying it. There are places on this planet where that happens. Don’t believe me? Go to China or North Korea and trash their government. There are places in this world where your alligator mouth can get your hummingbird ass in a pot full of trouble. Those places don’t give a damn about your “rights”.

I know…there are some limitations to free speech…no yelling fire in a crowded theater. But when the government places limitations on a right they must make the limitation as narrow as possible and err on the side of freedom.

Pornography abhorrent to you…free speech… don’t look at it

Making fun of someone’s god…free speech…Go someplace else.

Making fun of a politician…free speech (and a notional pastime to boot).

Goodness gracious! You’re offended? Toughen up buttercup.

Life Lesson: Life is hard, and then you die.

If you are a public official you are not the overlord and master. You don’t get to limit what I can and cannot say. If you can’t stand the heat don’t run for governor of the kitchen. Most of the time, at least half the people are mad at you. And there are times when most people are mad at you. Rarely do most people agree with you. Fact of life! You don’t like it? Resign from office and stay home.

If we’re going to limit hate speech, who gets to decide what “hate” speech is? The US President? Congress? The Supreme Court? Your state governor? Your state legislature? Local city councilors? Take a vote on every word and the context in which it’s used? Do we use Facebook algorithms? Twitter? Instagram? Pornhub? Who gets to write the algorithms? Based on what?

Words and their meanings change. What’s cool today is tomorrow’s cuss word. The goal posts keep moving. And I ain’t playing that game.  I try to stay away from the most egregious words. But if I want to say “that pillow is soft as a bag-o-boobs” you’re gonna hear it. And if you don’t like it, get your own pillow…I like mine soft as a bag-o-boobs.

Freedom is chaotic. Freedom is hard. You really want to punch them in the nose? Walk away…That ain’t free speech, that’s assault. And if you call them a racial slur when you whack ‘em…that’s assault with hate crime icing. Whatever the hell that is.

But if you think freedom is hard, try living under tyranny. Your big mouth could get you “reeducated” or disappeared or killed.

You politicians knew what you were getting into when you ran for office. And if you didn’t know, you found out within a few days. So if you don’t like what’s being said about you, resign, go home, lock the doors, cower behind the couch, and stay there. No one will care, much less miss you.