The free speech case.

The free speech case.

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A teacher in New Jersey, USA is on the receiving end of threats and calls for her sacking after posting a comment regarding “LGBT History month” Without knowing much about the case I am really unable to make an opinion on what she said, but for me, what she said isn’t really the point, the point for me is that she is entitled to say it.

Let’s pretend for a moment we all still live in a democracy, and that we have free speech.  If that’s true then everyone is entitled to their opinion. It’s clear from reading the comments that the people posting (almost all of whom are against the teacher) feel entitled to their opinion and their free speech but when it comes to the teacher voicing her opinion, which is contrary to theirs suddenly they want to remove that particular democratic right. Never mind the fact that in the United States there is a first amendment that protects it.  – Though the constitution of the United States is being dismantled so fast this statement might be out of date the next time you read it.

“Free speech zones” in America - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pKTXD1zn3I&feature=player_embedded

Of course, I've read what she said and it was quite vitriolic, the woman is clearly angry, but it doesn’t make her wrong, but this isn’t the issue, the issue here is about freedom of speech, the freedom to an opinion. Anybody who believes in freedom and democracy as more than just words to gain political and social capitol has to defend everyone else’s democracy, not just  their own.  This woman is entitled to her opinion regardless of what it may be and the people who disagree are just as entitled to their one. As Voltaire said "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."

But what are the limits of free speech? When discussing this story yesterday a friend said to me "If I posted privately on my facebook what she has I would be sacked" - This again brings up another debate about the limit of free speech. And she is quite right, in the UK and most of the Western world she would be sacked, and probably never work again. If one posts privately on their own blog or webspace and somebody screen-shots the page and starts posting it around then the issue for me is no longer about the statement but rather about an invasion privacy.  “Trolling” people’s social networking pages for politically incorrect statements and then distributing them is disgraceful, and it constitutes 'thought crime.’

It’s now the norm in contemporary Western society to keep quiet in case we offend someone, which is becoming easier to do as the day goes by since everyone is offended by something. On a strictly professional level, if her opinion was voiced in the classroom she would be in the wrong, not because her opinion is right or wrong, but because a teacher is expected to be impartial. If her opinion manifested itself as a personal attack on a student then it would no longer be a free speech issue it would be a professional one and the consequences of her opinion or by this point statement would have to be dealt with by her employer. If she was sacked in this case then it would be because she made a personal attack on a student in her care, not because she disagreed with their lifestyle choice/sexuality/gender.  – Of course here in the EU she could probably take it to the EU Human rights court and get a big payoff…

Thought crime - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughtcrime

Introduction

I’ve decided to start this blog to post my thoughts and analysis on current affairs, geo-politics, and events. It will run alongside my other blogs but is not affiliated to any of the work I am doing on the BA(Hons) Journalism degree course at University.

Here you will find my personal observations, analysis and suggestions.