Saturday, August 4, 2012

Free Speech Still Means Something

There is value in dissenting opinions no matter how annoying they may be.  You can always choose not to listen.  Unfortunately there seems to be a growing number of people who don't want you to even have a different opinion than theirs.  Not only are you not free to voice your opinion, you're not free to have it, and if you either have it or voice it, these Correctness Stasi (in Communist East Germany the Ministry for State Security) will punish you.

Did you read Orwell's 1984?

In George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the Two Minutes Hate is a daily period in which Party members of the society of Oceania must watch a film depicting the Party's enemies (notably Emmanuel Goldstein and his followers) and express their hatred for them. 

Interesting book.

So value your free speech and speak, and write, freely.

4 comments:

Mira said...

Yes! As a writer I struggle with this. There is so much pressure to be careful and quiet. But I believe the writer must speak their truth, or the power of their writing is lost!

Great topic! :)

Barb said...

Life is short enough. You can die when you least expect it. Don't pay attention to the pressure to conform. They do not know what's right for you.

Mira said...

Thanks! I appreciate that, and will keep it in mind.

I like your 'handle', hostess with the mostest. Nice. ;)

Barb said...

If you really want to be free and speak the truth, use your own name. Don't hide behind anonymous. If you want to take someone on, put your big girl panties on and go for it.