Why Freedoms must be absolute.

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I was having a discussion with a coworker about sports, and the topic wound its way to the #MillionMAGAMarch in Washington DC. He went on to say that the protesters were out there to support Trump (who lost). I said “So?” His response was interesting, and I think it is indicative of many people’s views on our freedoms. When I probed him for his reasons why and asked very pointed questions, his response was that some “protests” were “for the right reasons” and some were not. For what it’s worth he also mentioned that people out “celebrating” the Dodgers or (insert franchise name here) win by flipping cars and burning stuff wasn’t a riot.

But it is interesting to hear from people that there should be limits on our rights, and how short-sighted that is. As a matter of principle, the reason for protesting does not matter, so whether it is Black Lives Matter, the lockdowns, a political candidate, or the unfairness that Girl Scout Cookies aren’t available year round, the right to protest and peaceably assemble is protected and absolute.

Don’t get me wrong. Do I think that people going out during a pandemic in close quarters with only some people masked shouting, singing, and celebrating is a good idea? No, I do not. Do I think people clustering and spitting on, shouting at, and insulting police officers in the name of racial justice a good idea during a pandemic? No, I do not. Do I believe that people should be allowed to do so? Yes, absolutely. Do I agree with every protest? No. But do I need to? No.

It is the same with speech, petition, religion, and the press. People have the right to do things that I think are dumb, stupid, immoral, hateful, bigoted, racist, etcetera etcetera etcetera. And I encourage them to do so, because not only do they get to engage in the freedoms that we are blessed to have in this country, but they get to express their opinion, and I am informed as to whether I wish to voluntarily associate myself with that person. We’ve been told that we cannot enforce morality upon people (usually coming from marginalized people to typically white religious conservative types). And I agree with that standard. We have the right, and it should not be infringed upon, save for when it violates the rights of another person. That’s why a protest is patriotic, and a riot is criminal.

But this is where I also urge and encourage people to be responsible with their freedoms. You have the right to speak freely. You have the responsibility to speak wisely. You have the right to practice your religion. You have the responsibility to practice it wisely. You have the right to assemble and petition the government. You have the responsibility to do so peaceably. the problem seems to be that people forgot the second half of that bargain, and are urging that those freedoms be curtailed because people are saying things irresponsibly, doing thing irresponsibly. And the rights we have are being attacked.

There is an active effort to shift the definition of free speech to acceptable speech, from an objective measure to a subjective one. This is a dangerous road to travel down, because it transforms the absolute right for anyone to say things that are stupid, hateful, bigoted, and socially unacceptable into another power game, defined by those who are in power, and reserved only for the few who wield that power. Our ability to speak, assemble, petition, engage in religion, and publish will become little more than a game, with rules to be defined in ever-tightening fashion.

I don’t agree with the things that people say fairly often. Heck, I’m sure you don’t agree with the things I say sometimes. But you and I and all the people that say dumb things have the right to say it. Free speech isn’t reserved for popular ideas. Protest and assembly are solely for things we agree with. A free press isn’t just for the ideas that are inoffensive.

I urge everyone to take a moment to reflect on that. I am not asking you to accept the content of what someone says. I am not asking you to support what someone who protests something supports. I am asking, no pleading with you to see that it is vital for the continued existence of this country that those rights be kept absolute. Because once we travel down the road where it isn’t, we’ll invite in real authoritarianism.