On Freedom of Speech II

"Immer, wenn Bücher verbrannt werden, sind auch Männer am Ende verbrannt." Heinrich Heine

For a thorough definition, please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech

 

On April 26th, 2011, I received a private message (found below), presumably in response to something I have written.  For anyone who believes in freedom of speech, who believes in a world in which we can say what we like, freely, and not feel that we will be defamed, threatened, physically harmed or killed because of it, please read the following with great concern.  There are people out there who do not want you to be able to express yourself.  There are people out there that will do whatever they can to silence you if what you say runs against their own beliefs, or if it offends them in any manner.  If you do believe in freedom of speech, if you do not want to go down the road of those evils in the past found in Fascism, Nazism, Totalitarianism, etc., then you have to continue to speak up against such evils.  You have to also know that others who spout out things that run against your own beliefs, which may even offend your most personal heartfelt character, must be allowed the same privilege to do so.  Freedom of speech means allowing the freedom of those that you despise the most, to speak freely alongside of you and for you not to attempt to defame them, threaten them, physically harm them or attempt to kill them because of it.  Living in a better world, one in which we as a species coexist and listen to one another, despite whatever it is that we are saying, is a goal that I myself hold utterly dear within my own heart and mind.  I know that I am not alone in this venture, and I hope that you who value your freedom of speech know that you are not alone as well.

 

-delapruch

 

 

This April 26^th ranter wrote the following:

 

“My Golly Gosh!!!
I give you 2 stars only for your rotten guts to take on the majorities of this cruel corrupt world.
My spirituality is fine with my own convictions with out any God, and has nothing to do with you OK!!!.
I do not discriminate against anyone or anything, which you just did, alternatively may I say you questioned the choice of society. You could be in this poem the "f*****g Paul Revere", running amok on an exceptional pleasant site " FanStory" and community with normal people's thoughts and convictions. Their human rights were not at all considered by you!

Hey cowboy!! Why do you not become transparent in your f......ng Profile and show us who you really are?? Personally I think you need desperate help from your: I quote: "your own personal hell?"

You should come to Africa and witness where some of the society will burn a f*****g rubber tyre filled with gasoline around a person's neck, whilst he or she are alive!! What outcry will the non-heathen and or heathen society have then??

I review only worth while work and help novices where I can and give experienced writers credit where due. However this is you second outburst since I joined late in March this year.
I cautioned you previously in a review that it was an exceptional sensitive topic, but to no avail. It is easy for you to re- subscribe on this site as another literacy terrorist if you get banned now, which I hope you do!!

Be assured we will look out for your incriminating presence and let the authorities know straight away.

My conclusion to you is " It is you choice to be a non believer and remember others has a choice as well. There are not to many heathens in this world"
My kindest and best advice, is to ignore the ones you hate and not become your own enemy.”

 

 

For information on examples of societies which have not practiced the Freedom of Speech in the past, leading consequently to the deaths of millions of people:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Germany#Nazi_Germany_.281933-1945.29

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin#Purges_and_deportations

For a more elaborate and detailed list of present day countries which do not practice Freedom of Speech, visit the following:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_by_country

For a great site on the Freedom of Expression, please visit Professor Mark Cooray's website concerning the topic:

http://www.ourcivilisation.com/cooray/rights/chap6.htm#6.1

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

 

-Voltaire paraphrased.

 

 

“You cannot sedate all the things you hate.”

 

-Marilyn Manson

 

 

a beautiful note on the subject at hand:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AQ4tjMFhKc

 

Author's Note

We will say what we want. We will write what we want. We will, because we are free to do so, and you cannot stop us.