I love that those of us living in America, have the right to "Freedom of Speech." I feel honored that there are men and women from our country who have and continue to fight to protect this right for us Americans. Without this right, the blogging world would not exist. Much of what we see and hear on the TV, the Radio, in Print and on the Computer would never be known to us Americans, if we lived in another country that did not have "Freedom of Speech."
However, it saddens me that SO many people MISUSE "Freedom of Speech" and use this right to hurt, degrade, embarrass, humiliate, and in some cases destroy other human beings. I don't understand why some people feel that it is OK to be MEAN and in many cases CRUEL, because they believe they have a "right" to do this with their words. It is such a fine line with this "right" - one that I suppose I don't fully comprehend, but what I do know, is that I DESPISE those who think that by having the right to "Freedom of Speech", it gives them the "freedom" to lie (or not tell the WHOLE truth) and hurt others.
I don't believe that the fore-fathers of our country back in 1789, had this "misuse" in mind when they came together and drafted The Bill of Rights and included "Freedom of Speech." I thought it was intended to protect the people from the British government...not destroy another human being.
During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.
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.
And The United States Constitution starts out with:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
How are we creating this "more perfect union" as people of the United States, when we keep tearing each other down with our words - and then hide behind The Bill of Rights, defending that we have a "right" to say what we want despite what it does to someone else.
Why is it that a famous person can sue a magazine for so-called "slander" and "misrepresentation" when the magazine prints a story that may not be "completely" true or "misleading" about the individual or a situation they are associated with. And yet I know individuals who are being "slanderous" and "misrepresenting" situations they are blogging about in their blogs. THEY are NOT being completely true. Am I allowed to sue them for "slander" and "misrepresentation?"
Obviously, I am feeling pretty passionate about this topic, especially due to a recent personal experience. And since I have a "right" to "Freedom of Speech," I intend to use that "right" - but NOT in the same way as others have - to tear someone down just to build myself up, be hurtful and provide misleading information. I intend to "tell the truth...the whole truth...and nothing but the truth" - and hopefully those that read my blog post, will realize there ARE TWO sides to every "blog." And just because someone touts that they are a "professional" at something, does not make them more important or more legitimate with their words, just because they think they are!
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