The Responsibility of Free Speech

The words of Auld Lang Syne hit me the other day as I searched for some music for my church’s weekly Tuesday Music Meditation.  The song, usually sung near the New Year, stands for establishing understanding between people, employing a clean slate at the start of a new year, and building stronger bonds of community and peace.  In a very old Scottish way, “auld acquaintance” generally refers to animosity, or past grudges, and the song calls for them to be forgot and never brought up again.  The poem “Auld Lang Syne” is written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who also wrote the poetry that was the basis for Of Mice and Men, about how plans can sometimes go awry.  The title itself, Auld Lang Syne, refers to time long past.  

Words and music often have a profound effect on how we feel.  They can evoke strong feelings, and they can alter our perceptions of things.  Emotions and feelings are often tied to the less rational side of our brains, which makes us susceptible to things that our rational brain might not be so inclined to believe.  Our words can have an influence on those who are younger than us who see us as role models, words can calm tensions, and they can incite insurrection.  A well-written speech can be the life-blood of a politician’s life, and inspire the masses to greatness, or a poor speech can make then the laughing stock.  A preacher’s interpretative expose of a two-thousand year old manuscript, and their ability to make an old text be meaningful and relevant to today’s society can be the difference in feeding their flock and helping grow in their faith, or contribute to boredom in the middle of the worship service.  The words of a coach can inspire a team to greatness, or leave them dazed and confused fighting with each other on the field. 

Legendary speakers and texts leave us with memories of quotations.  The Bible says, “The last shall be first, and the first shall be last” amongst many good nuggets of wisdom.  FDR had the “nothing to fear but fear itself” speech and JFK asked “not what your country can do for you, but what you can for your country.”  MLK had I Have A Dream, Malcolm X had “You can’t separate peace from freedom” quote.  Even the most terrible dictators like Hitler, can be remembered for such negatively inspiring words like “ if you tell a lie big enough and often enough, you will be believed.” (that one rings a little too close at the twilight of the Trump administration). 

But it isn’t just legendary speakers and ancient texts that have the ability to inspire and move us.  In the age of the internet, and social media, we all have a valuable voice in the discourse.  We have influence over people, to inspire greatness, or sow seeds of discord.  We can build people up with powerful words, or to incite violence with hateful rhetoric.  This is not anything new; mentors have long had influence over the younger generation; adults over children, and children over adults.  In truth, whenever we engage in honest, open dialogue, with listening ears instead of biased mouths, we wield influences over anyone we come into contact with.  And with influence, comes responsibility.  

The First Amendment confirms that every citizen of the United States is afford the freedom of speech, meaning that, in theory, we are free to express ourselves through speech in whatever means we wish to.  We might post on social media, write prose on a popular blog, even speak aloud our opinions on any number of subjects.  In some ways this is a power that we have, because in many places in the world that power is not extended to its citizens (i.e China and Russia).  It’s that and many other freedoms that make this country unique, and why we are the greatest nation on Earth.  

But there has always been another side of that amendment, that so often and easily gets ignored.  It’s not always made palpable, but it does exist.  On top of slander laws, and how free trade allows employers to dictate how their companies are projected by their employees, we all hold a responsibility to pick our words with care.  Personally (and professionally), I choose my words with care all the time because I know they can have an effect on other people.  I also have learned through bitter experience to never have an argument with an implacable foe.  

A classic counterargument that’s used is that words are like guns:  guns don’t kill people, people kill people.  Words are just words, its the interpretation that makes all the difference.  That point of view isn’t without some validity; our point of views shouldn’t be dictated by someone else.  I believe they call that a cult.  The same responsibility should exist for the words we choose, as our actions; we have a responsibility to them. 

The truth has taken quite a beating over the years.  We have confused opinions and facts for so long that its hard sometimes to tell the difference.  The thing to remember is that the truth isn’t something that is debatable; the truth is just the truth.  Opinions are what can be debated.  And we have the right to our opinions, but not to represent them as facts.  We should seek to speak with the truth whenever we can.  It shouldn’t be, as Hitler put it, that if you lie big enough and convincingly that eventually people will believe you.  That’s not how lies should work.  Truth should always be paramount.  And we all should start bearing a bigger responsibility for it and for not bearing false witness, as the Christian Bible might put it.  

So to recap so far: 1). Pick our words with care and responsibility and 2). be more acceptable to the truth.  

While I seek no to put myself up as some sort of pedestal example, I do want to be what I speak of.  I always choose my words carefully, especially in public.  I reserve the most evil words, for the most evil circumstances, because sometimes they are just that descriptive.  But I also know my audience, and I always seek to inspire, rather than foment negativity.   Because only through positive thinking and truly open dialogue in which all parties understand their responsibility to their words, and to the truth, can our country move forward.  Only then can our moral credibility be repaired in the world, and can we build an America we can all be proud of, and that will truly live up to the ideals, both the ones in spirit and the ones literally enumerated in our most prized documents: The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and all of our sacred doctrines.  

I call on us all, to rebuild the damage by building a new way.  And understanding that our words do indeed matter.