What is Free About Freedom of Speech?

How far has the idea of free speech gone?We define Free Speech as " the concept of being able to speak freely without censorship" but, the law does not fully give absolute to Freedom of Speech .Different countries including the United States have varied limitations on extreme acts of free speech,so there are to be rational limits and true concepts to really make your speech free.

Vulgar language is considered to offend others but,again is it not their right to speak as they want?No,it isn't even though there is no law that actually states otherwise that is in existence at this time.Supposedly,you can only promote issues and ideas of free speech as an individual yet,strangely when the government officials use "free speech" to say what they want it is considered a expression of "healthy government", fair? No,not at all.

Andy Rooney spoke very diligently about how Expensive Free Speech is,he says that " the idea of free speech may have gotten out of hand,to often what we call free speech isn't free at all" it's considered by many to be "irresponsible".He goes on to say that "no one is allowed to yell " Fire!" in a crowded theater" because there will be consequences to pay and that irresponsible speech derived the hatred that people feel towards the War in Iraq but ,still they claim that it is "freedom of speech " that they can do so.

And what about people in the entertainment industry has the idea of "freedom of speech" warped into their brains so badly that they feel that they can say whatever they want?I am a Mel Gibson fan so when I heard about his shocking ti-rate I was intrigued,in his drunken state he blamed the Jews for all the Wars in the World,surely everyone has said something that at the time they didn't quite mean or perhaps it came out wrong and the matter of the fact he did apologize when he finally realized all that he had said,but indeed did he have the right to say it?

Then we can take a look at the Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines who had been said to quote " President Bush is a joke " and "We're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas" and she goes on to to diss fellow country singer Toby Keith by stating that " his tough talking song makes country music sound ignorant" referring to his hit song about the country that he loves and upholds with greatness " Courtesy of the Red,White and Blue".I think she took the whole idea of "free speech" a bit to far.It shows in airplay on country music stations that I am not alone,since her boisterous opinions surfaced Dixie Chicks record sales have dropped 40%.

John Nowacki wrote a article about celebrities and the fact that since they are celebrities that their right to freedom of speech does not guarantee their popularity.He says that is it fine for celebrities to voice their opinions about issues such as the war in Iraq but,in all reality alot of people don't really want to listen to what they have to say and "instead of whining that they should remember what happened to Iraqis who spoke out before the war and be grateful they live in a country where they have the freedom to say whatever they want, no matter how stupid or silly it is".

I personally believe that a simple idea started by our founding fathers,the First Amendment is as follows,
It prohibits the federal legislature from making laws that establish religion (the "Establishment Clause") or prohibit free exercise of religion (the "Free Exercise Clause"), laws that infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of the press, limit the right to assemble peaceably, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. And the text from the Amendment states , "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."has really taken a turn for the worse and is not upheld as it used to be as a priority but is now used as a mere excuse for indecent acts upon others.Morals have really left the playing field,so to speak.

In the United States most people are proud to have the kind of Democracy that we do have,to be able to live where we want,how we want,to be able to marry the kind of race we wish to marry ,to be able to make a future for ourselves at our own discretion and our own leisure and to think that we have some kind of say in how our country is ran.It makes us as Americans feel like we have achieved something as a whole society.But,what if someone told you that your input is irrelevant and that and that is doesn't matter if we participate in the acts of voting because the government and city officials can basically do what they want because they lean on the idea of their rights being more powerful than yours.

It all basically comes down to authority,who has what authority over who.I am a law abiding citizen and I believe in the utmost respect of others but,sometimes I do find it hard to keep my mouth shut,not because of any indecent language that might escape me or because I may hurt someones feelings but because I have authority over myself and if I believe in something strong enough it is my belief not something that I wish to force onto anyone else or condone them for their acts against what I believe.I stand up for myself and if others would just worry about themselves and not the ideas and visions of others and lash out then just maybe our speech would be free again that is, if we didn't have the constant worry about who is saying what.