The Myth of Freedom of Speech

I’m censored. I readily accept it and admit it. I have a weekly radio show and the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) has declared there are eight words I can’t say on radio.

I’ll admit I was considering using the title, “Eight Words I Can’t Say” as clickbait but free speech is not about me it’s about all of us.

I can’t swear during a broadcast even though many topics I cover each week almost invite the use of all eight words and then some. (Blatant crass commercialism – The link for you to listen to my live weekly radio show is in the footnotes below)

I can’t denounce a specific group of people either. Not because of government control but because the station would get a barrage of calls to dump me off the air.

Would that be justified? That’s what I want to talk about in this article.

Vocal Freedom

I guess there are guidelines somewhere on Vocal, but I haven’t been able to locate them. I know there has been swearing in some articles I’ve read. I’m not offended if the use of the words are justified in making a worthy point.

If I was offended, I could choose to not follow that person or write a rebuttal reply to voice my conflicting point of view.

Another great example of free speech.

Fire In A Crowded Theatre

One of the most quoted memes in voice and prose is, “You can’t yell fire in a crowded theatre,” if there’s no fire.

Can I yell “fire” in an empty theatre?

Pornography is legal child pornography is not. Hate speech is a punishable crime in most parts of the United States.

Where exactly is the line between what some authority says I can say and my freedom to seek out and listen to speech I want to hear?

Big Tech Censorship

Donald Trump has been banned from Facebook and Twitter. So has the BLM (Black Lives Matter) and some of the LGBT community posts.

Joe Rogan has been in the news lately to have his show silenced on Spotify. Being on cable he’s not restricted to the same speech restrictions I have.

He can cuss to his heart's content.

Do any of these restricted people or groups need to be silenced?

You may not like Donald Trump, but you sure don’t have to follow him or read his tweets or posts.

The same with the BLM or the LGBT community. Read them is you’re a follow or ignore them if you’re not.

It seems to me therein lies the essence of free speech. I should be the judge of what I want to hear not some unnamed entity in a cubical somewhere.

I Have Intelligence

Some of my writing might call that subtitle into question but I think I’m capable of telling the difference between good and bad speech.

Anti-gay, anti-black, anti-Jewish, anti-atheist, anti-religious, anti-women, are just a few of the topics I’m able to recognize on sight.

I would guess you’re able to discern them as well.

What do you do when you encounter speech you consider hateful or damaging?

Some Final Thoughts

As someone who’s censored each week, I wish I was free to use whatever language I want on the air.

God created the tuning knob on the radio so you can easily change the station and my ratings go right into the porcelain fixture.

That seems the best way to silence offensive speech. Calling attention to it causes the exact opposite reaction and keeps offence speech alive and well.

Most of us censor ourselves. We think things but would never voice them in public or outside the confines of those who think as we do.

Is Freedom of Speech a Myth? I guess it’s in the ear of the beholder, isn’t it?

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