How to Talk to a Republican #4: Free Speech

Thanks to Cliff Schecter for his kind words concerning the title of this series. Cliff wrote me back and told me he'd cribbed his title from Ann Coulter's book. There's no way she could prove plagiarism so I'm free to use the title.

Ahh, free speech. Lee Greenwood patriots everywhere hold the Flag as holy, perhaps just a bit more than the Cross. Burning it to them is an anathema, a desecration, an insult to all they hold holy. When "Proud to be an American" becomes the national anthem, perhaps flag burning will be illegal. I have a feeling a lot of other "offensive" acts will be outlawed then as well.

Freedom of speech means simply Government can pass no law abridging it. Free speech is also freedom of expression, and burning a flag is a form of expression. You may not like some speech, you may even find some offensive but Government can't abridge it as long as the First Amendment is in effect. You like the Second and the Fourth, you have to live with the First, now! Personally, there's something I find much more offensive, desecrating the Constitution.

Flag burning bans, free speech zones, banned books all offend me much more than a gasoline-soaked rag going up in flames. Attempts by the Government to intimidate reporters, to keep people out of events because of the message on their T-shirts, keeping passengers from flying because there's something Arabic on their chest, these disturb me. Again, it may not be speech you find to be of value but it is protected speech.

Another military veteran once told a protester who asked him how he felt about flag burning, For you to burn a flag would be extremely offensive to me and I would die for your right to do so.

ANY abridgement of free speech is a lessening of our Republic.