a note on free speech / political speech

Just something to think about and factor in.

Certainly one has the right to speak. One may not have the right to every/specific means of speech (i.e., do we have a right to a full-page ad in the NY Times?). Doesn't one have the right to not have one's speech drown out by opponents?

Think about the most basic 'speech in the town square'. I certainly have a right to speak. I may (or may not) have a right to a turn at the microphone on the stage, but assuming this is a publicly financed event fundamental American sense of fairness suggests that I have that right. Similarly, I may not be protected against being shouted down by the crowd, but again some fundamental sense of fairness suggests that I ought to have at least some protections.

This protection of my access to speak and be heard my not be established in our founding/controlling documents, but it does seem it would be included within the 'American compact' - all equal, got each other's back.

sticks & stones

You know the old cliche. In some respects, it could be an excellent example of my form of 'compromise'.

You should be able to hurl the most vile and abusive insults at me, so long there is no physical contact or threat of the same. And if a 3rd person wishes to intervene on my behalf in any physical means, I should be counted on to defend my attacker. This is, I believe, a somewhat simplistic but instructive example of American ideals.

That said, I understand about yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater and about 'inciting speech' and 'fighting words'. (Inciting speech is characterized by the speaker's intent to make someone else the instrument of his or her unlawful will. Fighting words, by contrast, are intended to cause the hearer to react to the speaker.) Clearly some exceptions should apply, but the general rule should be very clear.

divisions in society

I've mentioned before an alternative approach to political compromise - instead of meeting halfway on each & every aspect of an issue, each side gets their share of winning 100% of the individual aspects of a particular issue. So there are clearly some divisions in the country. What to do?

I guess I don't care if we become a Spanish speaking nation. Or ebonics (or whatever that's currently called). And maybe it's okay that groups seem to demonize each other; this seems almost to be human nature. So long as the individual knows s/he is secure and free to believe and speak (knowing that nothing's perfect and being 100% secure isn't going to happen) and that there's some agreement among all that that should be so, maybe that's the 'compromise' that needs to happen. Let the rest of it go.

Just so we hold onto what it means to be American and agree to keep that secure for each other. Living our American ideals may have the power to transcend language & race & religion & all the other things that would otherwise divide us.