SPEECH: About real freedom

Freedom of Speech is misunderstood, misused and corrupted from its designed legal purpose: to prohibit authorities in power from prosecuting citizens over politics. That beliefs should NOT land one in jail and dissenting opinions should not be punishable by the strong arm of the law and enable the politics of force, power and tyranny over its citizenry. How I wish our contemporary youth and nation understood this.

In contrast, Freedom of Speech does not give you the right to be unruly. It does not give you the right to be heard, printed or published. It does not give you the right to speak to me. It does not give you the right to be undisciplined, unwieldy or act as uncouth children.

Unless you are standing on a soapbox in the public square peaceably redressing your grievances with your government, you have no right to hold the people and private citizens hostage and force your vulgar disorderly conduct on the community.

In a nutshell, you have a right to freedom of political thought without the fear of legal persecution for it by the government and that’s about it. It enables no one the right to act as a brute beast in the public square. It’s time to return to authentic and true virtue.

KEITH BOE

Post Falls