Freedom of Speech or Freedom of Reach
One is a freedom, one is a privilege and too much of either can be dangerous.
The debates around free speech and whether or not it can or should have boundaries have been around as long as the idea of free speech itself. With the increasing intensity of efforts to confront bigotry and oppression as well as the counter-reacting upsurge in authoritarianism in the past couple of decades the debate has become all the more prominent and important. Frustratingly the loudest cries for freedom of speech have recently been coming from those only interested freedom for their particular views, which all too often hypocritically include the silencing of any opposing views.
The idea of free speech is at the core of every concept of democracy. The freedom to express thoughts and opinions whether or not they agree with those of others or of those in positions of power. Authoritarian leaders are referred to as dictators because they use their positions of power to dictate policy and public discourse through force. As a civilian, a member of the press, or in a position of power the freedom to speak and express is absolutely essential for any state of genuine democracy to exist at all.
The catch is words can most definitely be harmful. They can be used as weapons in and of themselves to say nothing of the behavior and outcomes they can influence…
