"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
In the wake of the horrific shootings in Tucson, Arizona a few weeks ago, there's been much discussion on what we "should" or "should not" say.
"Politicians should temper their rhetoric."
"The media should adopt a more civil tone."
"It's this kind of inflammatory speech that promotes these acts of violence."
To all of this, we say "Hogwash!"
Listen, folks, our nation was founded on some very key principles.
Two of the most important form the backbone of the very first Amendment to the Constitution – "freedom of speech" and "freedom of the press."
Uncensored speech is MY right….It's YOUR right.
And it's certainly ANYONE'S right to disagree with what comes out of our mouths.
But if we start putting prior restraint on what our citizens can and can't say, we're no better than the totalitarian states we so often rail against.
And while we're at it, we're not too keen on the professor at Auburn University who has "whitewashed" Mark Twain's classic, Huckleberry Finn.
He's changed a word many find offensive.
We're offended by it as well.
But let's talk about that word, why it's there, and why it's a problem.
Don't just cut it out or soften it.
What next? A word in the Constitution someone doesn't care for?….then a sentence?
This is dangerous.
We may not agree with everything people say or write in our country, but we have to defend their right to say it.
We absolutely HAVE to.
Tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
