To listen and to see
what’s silent or what’s hidden
to break the chains, be free
and say whatever is forbidden,
You can yell, insult or maim
and you’re not to blame
cause freedom is for you;
that your beliefs are more than true.
The Angry One by Ferdinand Hodler
Can we live with total freedom of speech or do we need to have some level of courtesy? What do you think?
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September 11, 2017
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Truth, in love. That’s my mantra.
This is a great piece.
This is beautiful Björn :o)
This rings with truth, Bjorn. I would hope that me could have both.
Beliefs are just thoughts, but hard to let go. You are free to think what you think, no matter how stupid or weird. It is my hope we will remain free, though I have been told, we have lost many freedoms in the name of security, since 9/11.
Interesting idea about something being “more than true”.
Don’t all freedoms come with responsibility? You may make the choice, but you have to live with the consequences whether good or bad. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.
Reminds me of the Mark Twain quote, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
I liked the rhymes here as well as the whole notion of free speech – a real poser ‘cos if the child had not spoken the emperor would not have known he was naked in public! I believe we should consider the feelings of others before we speak unless the other has spoken ill thoughts
It makes me think about the freedom we have to listen or not.
That is the great debate, at this juncture we have come to: Does freedom of speech include the right to spread hate-speak or wildly distorted religious dogma? I think it does not – or, at least, it should not. But where is the line drawn? That is the question.
selfish freedom…
thanks for raising the question, a vital one in a free society. Is it enough to ignore the hate-mongers or shame them (they usually don’t respond to either) when the effects of their speech can be so destructive? Keeping the debate alive is the key to sanity, but there are no quick or easy answers. The way it has always been, so don’t despair, just stay alert and speak out.
You and Frank have both reminded me of the extra kick you get from a form. You pose a massive question. I’m not sure I can answer it right now.
The question is where the line is between freedom of speech and inciting to riot; between freedom of “speech” and illicit photography on a computer; and recently, a young woman in the U.S. convicted of manslaughter I believe, as she urged a boyfriend through emails and texts to commit suicide – and he did. Laws evolve with the times and technology….and sometimes what is legal may not be what some perceive as justice. All food for thought.
That’s a thought…..freedom to say whatever you like. I know someone like that😊
Freedom always leaves space for others. (K)
I do believe we need a certain level of courtesy.. when it comes to speech… but under dire circumstances.. feel free to breach them! 🙂
I think those who speak respectfully are heard better than those who rant and rave.
…that your beliefs are the more true…
(my misreading)
i might offer, brudberg, that since nobody knows what life is all about, and even ‘reality’ is just a consensus of belief, free speech is crucial, crucial. we must be free to express our experience and how we make sense of it all, however wrongheaded those expressions may seem, in order that each may contribute to the grand agreement on what is, and what’s up. weighing in very pro.
Yes.. however we have reached a point where free speech is so load that no one listens
Words should not be used as weapons of hate…and the arts of listening and respectful speech are not practiced enough. You raise the underside of ‘free’ speech well.
Can freedom come with conditions? An important question for our times.. the bigger question for me is why do humans need conditions..why instead of embracing the freedom do we abuse it so freely.
We have to. We must. There can be freedom without freedom. It would be grand to be able sensor the horrible, the hurtful, the hateful… But defines these terms? It’s a complicated, dangerous thing…
Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.- Rousseau… we have a freedom of speech if we wish to exert it, but love and compassion for others and social justice may prevail and silence our tongue.
Freedom of speech as long as it does not hurt others deliberately and systematically. I often wish people would think twice before saying something. Good question and a tricky one to convey in just 44 words.
Yes, but you need laws or some type of regulations so people do not as you say “maim” in the sense of discrimination, or bullying through speech, things like that.
You raise questions whose answers seem obvious and difficult at once. I tend to be for very free speech, but it’s interesting to me to see how people respond to the idea. Take care, k .
It is generally accepted that yelling fire when there is no fire is an inappropriate use of free speech. To stand at a podium and encourage the audience to attack a protester seems just as wrong. And yet, the current US president did that very thing, yelling danger when there was no immediate danger. Even encouraging his crowds to attack others in the audience. Very sad times, indeed.