DO NOT MISTAKE FREEDOM FOR PRIVILEGE

Let’s get down to basics. What does “Freedom” really mean? The Merriam-Webster definitions are as follows:

1)       The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved

2)       The absence of subjection to foreign domination or a despotic government

3)       The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint

The type of Freedom most of us are concerned with is definition number 3. We tend to think of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States when we consider this definition of Freedom. This is a wonderful ideal to shoot for.

However, there are barriers to this Freedom in its purest form. One of these, necessarily, is the rule of law. We are not free to steal or murder, for instance. Most of us would agree that this limit to absolute freedom is a good thing.

Unfortunately, there are other barriers to Freedom that are not necessary, but still exist. Those that seem to be most prevalent today include:

• ·       The potential for offending someone

• ·       The perception of ideas as weapons

• ·       The attitude that what one believes defines Freedom for everyone

Let’s address these one at a time.

“Offensive” Speech

If my words are potentially offensive to someone, I can certainly choose not to say them. However, if what I can say and where I can say it can be legislated, then the First Amendment has been violated. Someone else’s feelings should not take precedence over the right to freedom of speech.

The belief that “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” has regrettably been lost, and that threatens free speech, because it makes the type of speech that is allowed subjective and open to interpretation. This can never be reconciled, because what offends one may not offend another. It should not be up to the speaker to analyze whether or not what they say may offend someone. They cannot possibly always know what may or may not offend others, unless they are a mind-reader. The speaker can choose to be polite or not, but that is a completely different matter. Their words may have consequences, but that does not have any bearing on their right to say them.

As listeners, people are free to ignore words they find offensive or that they disagree with, decide to not allow it to bother them, or they can simply choose to not listen. The burden should not be on the speaker. That would constitute a “hindrance” to free speech.  If your “right” to not be offended supersedes my right to free speech, that is a privilege, not Freedom.

Ideas that “harm”

People have a variety of opinions on innumerable issues. All of these diverse ideas are protected if a society is truly free. (Reference the word “think” in the definition above.) Freedom of speech provides the opportunity to verbalize these ideas without hindrance. If what one believes and rationally expresses is counter to the beliefs of another, that is not harmful to anyone. It should be the basis for a civilized and open debate, not spur a cry for protection or retaliation.

We should all recognize that many ideas and beliefs are held passionately, and people can be emotional. But that should not override our ability to discuss them in a diplomatic and hopefully productive manner. We may never reach a consensus, but we can peacefully agree to disagree.

If one believes their ideas are acceptable, but someone else’s are not, that is privilege, not Freedom.

My “Truth” is the only truth

Every individual has the right to their own worldview. And everyone has the right to have strong, unyielding principles. People may belong to groups that have similar beliefs. These individuals and groups do not have the right to insist that everyone else agrees with them.

The First Amendment provides that no one can be persecuted by the government, or anyone else, for their beliefs.  It also does not allow the prohibition of any one person or group from believing another person or group is wrong, or even evil, so long as no physical or material harm is done to the other person or group.

True Freedom demands that the ideas of those that disagree with us are just as important as our own.  If one believes their truth is the only truth and that their belief should be held above all others, they desire privilege, not Freedom.

If we are demanding only our own freedom, but no one else’s, what we are demanding is privilege. This is not Freedom by any definition.