On Wednesdays I want to open up a discussion. Basically, I want to rant and rave a little on some of our current events or other items where we all have opinions. I want to hear your opinions, open up the floodgates a little and start a converstion.
This week I am caught up in thoughts on free speech. Yesterday, radio personality Mike Savage made some seriously hateful comments about autistic children. Basically he said autism was a racket and autistic children are all fakers and spoiled brats. I'm not sure what he thought he was going to accomplish with such ridiculous comments. Many people think he should have the microphone pulled out from in front of his big mouth. So here is where I think things can get politically dicey.
I totally support free speech. I think the guy is an arrogant moron, but I also believe he has the right to voice his opinion in his personal venue. If his boss wants to take away his job because he doesn't appreciate the backlash of anti-Savage pressure he is receiving, that is his bosses right. I don't think that is going to happen this little incident has generated way too much attention, albeit negative. So should the guy be censured by the world, absolutely. But I still believe he gets his freedom of speech.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have been researching the Utah kids registry, a program that allows parents, teachers, caregivers to block adult-oriented advertising that is sent to their e-mail or cell phones. Utah law (one of only two states to have this statute) requires all businesses that send advertisements on alcohol, tobacco, gambling, drugs or pornography to scrub their lists of email or cell phones contacts that have registered for the kids registry. It's a pretty great tool that gives families a choice about what kind of messages are allowed to enter their homes and lives. Of course so called free-speech orginizations are fighting the law. They believe it is their fifth ammendment right to send advertisements to whomever they wish or phish for.
I could not disagree more. They can write their advertisements but I should be able to choose what types of advertisements come into my home. I should have the right to protect the minors in my sphere of influence. I believe an e-mail address and a cell phone is a private place, not a venue for someone's self-serving free speech.
Well I have said my peace. Where do you stand on free speech? I will post a link and more information on the registry on my Friday Finds post.
3 comments:
Just so you know, this is the first time i read your blog all week and yes i had to comment on everything because i have a few opinions about stuff. so, i have been dealing with autistic kids every sunday in my primary calling and it is enought o drive me crazy, but i don't think they are spoiled brats, and yea i love free speech, but i know very well the damage words can do and how they shape young and old minds. I totally agree about what kind info comes into my home.
I keep up with the news pretty well but I didn't hear about this. There have been issues like this before. It gets really tricky. People have a right to speak their mind and it often hurts others. Its just that "freedom of speech" is such a vague term and sometimes(IMO) too much liberty is taken(i.e. in the influencing of young minds). Words are an amazing thing they are a passageway for our passions and a gateway to our thoughts.I believe they were given to us to build up, but too often we use them to tear down. I say we because I am often guilty of the same,sometimes I wish I was better at controlling my own tongue.I think its wonderful that Utah has that law-I hope(but am a little discouraged) that it will spread.
I couldn't agree with you more, Rachelle. First of all, I am guessing this radio guy made his ignorant comments for the shock value and to get attention. I sincerely hope that he is not really that stupid. Secondly, I think those "free speechers" are taking things a bit far by claiming that directly marketing children with harmful adds is free speech. Gimme a break!
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