Freedom of speech, one of our greatest virtues as a country, is in the news again with the tragic events of Tucson, Arizona. Everyone is pointing at the highly negative political discourse going on today. Are political pundits and commentators to blame? We are debating if certain things should or should not be said. But I think we have to look at a deeper issue. There will always be negative views, but we must decide what OUR response should be.
Thank God we have freedom of speech, but, let’s not forget, just because we can say anything, doesn’t mean we MUST say EVERYTHING. I think it’s wonderful to have blogs, and online journals, and Facebook, etc. To have a forum in which we could speak our mind: it's essential.
But, I think we should be responsible and realize that what we put online will be online FOREVER! Or, until, God forbid, a giant meteor hits the earth. So, let’s be good editors, and separate the good from the crap. Literally, I do not have to hear that you’re on the toilet, while on Twitter at the same time. Cause I’ll follow you almost anywhere, but the bathroom is not one of them.
In terms of freedom of speech, some people just shock for the sake of shocking, and, after a while, that gets old. If Howard Stern says something shocking, it’s boring now. It’s part of his character to say something off-kilter, so, when he does, he’s not adding anything new or challenging to the public discourse.
We should have a certain check list if we choose to use our freedom of speech to shock others. First, let's ask ourselves:
(1)WHO are we directing it at? (2) WHAT are we really saying?
(3) WHY are we saying it?
For example, I have the freedom to wear “black face” and walk down the streets of Harlem.
But I wouldn’t want to, for three reasons:
(1) I’m not a racist.
(2) I’m not stupid.
(3) I don’t wanna get killed.
Now, how is wearing “black face” advancing public discourse? I am just making people angry for no reason. There needs to be a purpose to what we say. Do we want to make the world a better place, or not?
I’m not saying we always have to say sweet little nothings to each other. Sometimes we have to be cutting, and biting, but, at the heart of what we say, we should reflect on how we can advance human discourse, and not degenerate it like a Tea Party protestor who held up a sign telling our president to: “Go Back to Kenya”. How is that helping us as a nation? Or, as a world? Or, as the human race? What are generations gonna say when they come after us?
There was a reason why Rosa Parks sat in front of the bus. Maybe to her, as she said in her own words, she was tired from work, and wanted to sit in the front. But look at the generations that were affected by that one “simple” statement, and she didn’t even have to use a word.
Maybe Anne Frank was just another girl keeping a journal. But, look at the generations later who would be inspired by her undying spirit.
Or, maybe Gandhi was just fasting for the fun of it. Or, maybe, just maybe, he was trying to say something too, with his actions, and not just his many quotable phrases. We must remember, his phrases are quotable, because his actions were notable.
Or maybe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Happy Birthday, today) marched on Washington, merely for the exercise. We have to realize, we are more than our words. Our actions must define who we are, and the words we say are just an outer reflection of our inner being.
Jesus once said: “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth: this defiles the man” (Matt 15:11). Of course, another would put it, “garbage in, garbage out”. I am not saying we should completely avoid these internet, television, or radio influences, but, if we are gonna let garbage in, we must learn how to receive that refuse, and also differentiate between the trash and valuable information.
We must also learn how to RECYCLE that garbage, so that we may turn it into a good use for humankind. There’s no way we can avoid garbage in this world, but we must find a away, as we do with other refuse, to somehow make it work for us. Let it make us stronger, instead of dividing us.
For example, If we hear lunatic ramblings of Ann Coulter, who labels 9/11 widows as witches, we just simply take out the pages in her book, and turn it into origami. Then sell that origami to help widows and orphans of that tragic day. Much more creative than Nazi book burnings, wouldn’t you say? Who knows? Ann Coulter might actually be seen as a national hero, and she wouldn’t even know it. This way we can take her garbage and make good with it.
On a side note, if Ann Coulter actually read her Bible, as she purports, she would read Saint Paul’s famous phrase: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
So let’s overcome evil with good. I know it’s not “easy being green”, but let’s learn to recycle the refuse of political discourse and turn it into something that will transform the world.
And, as for us personally, let’s not make the “garbage of negativity” so much a part of our lives. And maybe, one day, everyone will be responsible, do their part, and we wouldn’t have to recycle the negativity.
I think we also have to make time to be quiet, and take that walk, or read that book, without headphones, without cell phones, without always casting our eyes on a screen, or creating blockage in the brain with negative views being spewed out on the radio.
Cause, maybe, just maybe, the voices in our head will finally tell us to spread peace, joy, and love, instead of aggression, distress, and hate.
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