A few random thoughts about free speech, monuments and who’s next …

By Jim Muir

A few random thoughts about free speech, monuments and who’s next …

I worked in the news media for 25 years and during that time I wrote thousands of newspaper columns and op-ed pieces. I also hosted a weekly two-hour radio/call-in show that allowed listeners to voice their opinion about any topic. In both of these jobs I was used to readers and listeners voicing an opinion with me and many times against what I had said. I never took offense at those who disagree, because that’s the beauty of free speech. I can have my say … but you can have yours too.

I once got sideways with a listener when I said that, while I despise the vitriolic message of the Rev. Fred Phelps (I use the term ‘reverend’ very loosely here) and his hate-filled congregation … I still defend his right to say what he wants. You remember Phelps and his crew traveling the country hating on gays and protesting military funerals.

In the words of one caller, ‘I simply can’t believe that you would defend this group.’ It was a good question, so let me explain.

Again let me stress in the strongest terms possible, I despise, I loathe and I detest Phelps’ message, but if the politically-correct police tell Phelps to shut up and he is silenced, then who’s next? Is it me or you? Do the PC police soon say that they don’t like the comments of a small-town radio guy or an aging newspaper columnist and silence him? Or maybe that post you put on Facebook yesterday about the inept state government in Illinois or your dislike for Trump is deemed offensive and you’re silenced. In my thinking shutting down ANY free speech puts us all on a slippery slope of no return. So, while we hate the comments of some, in order to maintain the greatest freedom we have, we have to accept it. We don’t have to like it, but we must accept it, regardless! As Voltaire said: ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’

I mention that today because in every way I believe this is exactly what is happening with the recent surge of monuments and statues that are being removed, vandalized, destroyed and torn down. Let me pose this question regarding what we’ve witnessed in the past week: where does the line stop for what type of monument, symbol or statue that ‘this’ person or ‘that’ group finds offensive?

At what point do those who are anti-Christian or atheist say that a cross that is attached to the steeple of a church is offensive? Or maybe even the steeple itself? What about the words ‘In God we trust’ that adorns our currency? Or a sign in front of a church? Or the words of a minister standing in the pulpit? The list of things that could be labeled as offensive to fringe groups all over the nation is endless. Again, tell me where the red line stops concerning what is and what isn’t offensive?

You might say that my comments are far-fetched and might even proclaim ‘that could never happen.’ To that line of thinking I would simply say – ‘don’t count on it.’ Take a good look around you – that red line is moving rapidly every day!

We’re already on the ‘slope’ I mentioned earlier and I believe it’s getting more slippery every day!