Just because you have a right to speak does not require me to listen. My decision not to listen is choice, not censorship.
A few recent news items beg a review of how the First Amendment applies to free speech. Since my master’s thesis was on First Amendment free speech issues, I kind of studied the topic a few years ago.
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution comes into play with the phrase “Congress shall make no laws … abridging the freedom of speech….”
Despite the simplicity of that phrase, apparently it bears explanation. The issue here is that the Constitution prohibits government action limiting free speech along with a few other rights.
Now, let’s lay out some examples that seem to arise from recent news events.
If you are invited to speak at an organization’s gathering and some faction of that organization, associates of that organization, or just vocal folks, petition the organization to disinvite you, the First Amendment doesn’t come into play.
If I edit a publication and decide for whatever reason I chose not to use your material, that’s my choice. And, I totally have a right to make that choice.
It is interesting. Folks who want to limit government and keep government out of our lives, want to put the government into play when they need it or think it will be to their advantage. Actually, that is another rant for another day.
The point here is that, no matter who you are or where you want to speak, neither I nor any group of people are required to listen to you or give you platform to speak if we don’t want to hear what you have to say.
And that, boys and girls, is the American way.
