((Please note:  This article contains words of an “adult” nature, and - as such - individuals should take the appropriate precautions to ensure that those who they feel should not read this article, are prohibited access to it.))

There’s been a lot of talk, over the past few years, about free speech and whether or not it should be completely free.  I’d like to give my opinion on this matter.

First off, let’s define “completely” free.  By this, I mean that there is no censorship of speech, in any form.  In other words, there would be no more censorship of words on television, no more bleeping on the radio, no more “free speech zones,” etc…  However, it would still be possible to be sued for slander/libel, provided the statement was made as “fact,” and intended to harm.

My opinion?  I think free speech comes with some responsibility.  Do I agree with free speech zones?  Absolutely not.  Do I agree with disallowing the wearing of certain slogans, etc… in particular places? No. 
I do, however, see the point of some censorships, at certain times.

Although we have the right to speak as we wish, I feel it comes with a certain responsibility.  First off, going out and spewing out whatever comments we wish about someone, will often get us beat down, beat up, or even shot.  Secondly, using your right to free speech to blatantly disrupt a legal gathering (speech, debate, etc), is extremely innapropriate.  There is a time and place for everything.

Let’s add more to this.  The majority of people agree that words like “fuck,” “shit,” etc… should not be used in “polite” company, or - at the least - should not be used around children (at least, not until a certain age).  There exists a stigmata in this country, overall, about using those terms.  Whether or not this stigmata is appropriate, the fact that it exists, remains.

Keeping the so-called “bad” words from our children should be considered an appropriate thing to do.  Although, I do believe that this is something that exists in the realm of personal responsibility.  In other words, I feel that it is not the place of the television networks to remove those words - it is the place of the parent to use the TV ratings guidelines to block access to programs which use those words (should the parents deem it appropriate to do so).

This really boils down to one thing.  Personal responsibility.  This is something that this country has been lacking for quite some time.  It should not be up to the government to censor speech.  It should not be up to the government to dictate when we have the “right” to free speech, and when we don’t.  We should always have the right to free speech.  However, we should automatically exercise personal responsibility over that right.

It’s one thing to wait until the appropriate time to call a politician filthy names, or to make a protest-based speech.  It’s quite another (and - in my mind - unacceptable) to do so in the middle of said politician’s speech.

The problem with personal responsibility is two-fold:

1. Not everyone knows what it is.
2. Not everyone exercises it.

Fortunately, however - in the second case - those of us who do understand personal responsibility, have the ability to instruct the (again, in my opinion) idiots who either do not know, or choose not to exercise.

To boil this down?

• I support truly free speech…
• …provided it is exercised with personal responsibility.
• Those who choose not to exercise responsibility over their speech (i.e. so-called anarchistic free speech) should have to face the general population, and should be willing to accept the ramifications, thereof.
• It should be the individual’s right and responsibility to control and censor, as they see fit.  Not the responsibility of the government, television networks, radio networks, etc…

With that said, I bid you good day, and good speech.

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