You Don't Have to Give a Crap

The wonderful thing about freedom of speech and freedom in general is that we are all able to go our own way as individuals. It means I can have opinions and stances and they do not apply to you at all, because you are free.

If you hate nerds, that's ok, because your opinions, aside from maybe hurting my feelings, have no bearing on my nerdiness. And if I hate Cowboys fans, that is ok, because you can write me off and ignore me.

The beauty of the system that we have is that we are free to be opinionated. We are free to be ourselves. We are free to take whatever stance we want without worrying about getting into trouble. That means some of us will use that freedom to be racists, sexists, and generally bigoted and prejudiced. They can be complete and utter assholes. And that is ok. They can be all those things, and they have no way to force those opinions onto us. That is what freedom is.

When we start taking that freedom away though. When people are no longer allowed to have opinions that are not "correct", that is when things get bad. That is when you lose your personhood. Maybe you'll get lucky and what is considered "correct" fits you pretty well. But maybe it doesn't. And even if it does fit you, you still have to be careful that you don't accidentally come off as "wrong" to someone. Or horror of horrors you learn and grow and change your mind about things and all of a sudden you are on the "wrong" side.

There are people out there who say things that really offend me. When I am offended it does not make me happy. However, I would rather be offended every day and still be able to be myself without fear than enjoying perfect emotional comfort up until I get arrested for thinking wrong.

Freedom of speech is not some luxury we are allowed based on good behavior. Freedom of speech is the foundation of our republic. Freedom of speech is freedom of self, freedom for self determination, freedom of thought. To quote Patrick Henry, "give me liberty or give me death!"

(His entire speech is very moving if you haven't heard the quote in context)

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"