America, Censorship, and You

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I found this image to be quite powerful and also to depict a darker truth regarding free speech. Time and time again in this nation the ideal of freedom of speech has been tested, and in several instances the constitutional right has provided little protection on the behalf of those who are openly critical of unpopular government policies. Some examples include the McCarthy witch hunts and black listings, the use of government troops to disrupt protests during the Vietnam war, and the more recent attempts to make flag burning illegal. While one may not agree with the political and moral stances of the individuals from the preceding examples, they still, in theory, have the right to voice their opinions. However, when the views that they express are in staunch opposition to the policies of the government, especially policies which

it knows itself to be unethical, there has been a tendency to suppress the controversial dialogue. Currently, there are numerous instances in which the individual rights to free speech have been abused. For example, some who have chosen to speak out against the current administration have been labeled as "unpatriotic" and had there reputations severally damaged. Others have been subjected to wire tappings that would have previously been considered to be quite illegal. Rage Against the Machine was labeled as "anti-family" and its members were accused of being terrorists by some Republican senators. The claims are ridiculous and are simply the result of the senators attempting to discredit the band through the use of slander. The group has been scathingly critical of many politicians and their abuse of government power which has earned them a good deal of disdain in the political world. Others have been put on terrorist watch lists for joining the Peace Corps or working with Doctors Without Boarders in the middle east. The main point seems to be that even in a democracy, those in power fight to retain their power. Greed appears to be an inevitable element in any human organization. Not to say that all people are corrupt, but all have the potential to be. When the corruption of a politician has the potential to be exposed, this greatly threatens their power, and in many cases, people will go to great lengths to silence the source of the discrediting information. This is one of the main faults that is inherent within free speech. Those in power and those with the proper connections will always have some ability to silence the common critic and/or "create" information to fortify their position. This is not to say that the first amendment is not important, but it can only be 100% effective in an ideal, non-existent world. It is important for authority to be criticized and for ideas to be questioned, for it is by these means that societies are bettered and governments are reminded that they exist to serve the best interests of the people and not of their wallets or egos.