Free Speech & That Girl – Lessons Learned

You are trying hard to figure out, which girl, what did she say, or what was said about her.  Hah!  Wrong.  Two totally different topics …somewhat.

Free Speech

Twenty noodle lashes to me.

If you’ve read (not browsed or skimmed – and you know who you are!) the commentaries, free speech is muy importante to moi.  It’s a right guaranteed by the constitution.  And if you truly wish to exercise this right the same prerogative to the same degree must be given to the “… man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating, at the top of his lungs, that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.”  Aaron Sorkin, American President.

Well that’s easy to believe.  Easier to say.  But much harder to live.

I blew it.

A good friend of mine stands for many things that are nauseous to my very being.  My stances would be as nauseous to him except he’s so sure he’s right, he never gives energy to mine.  He’s smarter than me.

To maintain our friendship (and we do have a friendship), we keep a list of taboo discussion topics.  He frequently violates the list.  He’s passionate.  I, of course, do not.J  Tonight the violation was dogging the Dixie Chicks’ appearance on Primetime with Diane Sawyer.  He’s pro-George W and anti anything that is anti-George W.  I consider myself and am registered independent.  But when it comes to the highest office in the land until the Republicans change their party platform’s position on two topics on our list – affirmative action (or programs to level the playing field – see “White Privilege” commentary) and pro-choice, I will never ever vote for a Republican presidential candidate.  (Colin Powell make me change my mind.)  And lest you think I’m Republican biased – before I was an independent, I was a registered Republican.  When it comes to nonpresidential elections I’m open.

Anyway, as my friend ragged, I boiled.  “How dare he curtail their free speech!  They (Dixie Chicks) can say what they want.  He makes me so angry.  He’s such an #&&#$2#.”

WHOA!

Why am I angry?

That’s easy.  Because he’s dogging their right to speak.

At least that was my first thought.

HYPOCRITE.  Me, not him.

I’m angry because he’s speaking freely.  Not dogging free speech.  In fact he’s a big proponent of free speech.  His motto:  “We all have the right to free speech…. but with free speech comes consequences…don’t pout if people use their free speech to call you a dumbass.”  He’s dogging the Dixie Chicks whom he has never liked.

If he was praising the Dixie Chicks would I be angry?  Heckie no.

DOUBLE WHOA!!

BIG TIME HYPOCRITE.

DAG.  Lesson learned.

We’re human and as Aaron Sorkin implied, free speech frequently includes boiling – somebody’s butt.

Tonight it was mine, and my friend.  He’s irked cuz the Dixie Chicks are “whining.”  I’m irked cuz I support the Dixie Chicks so how dare anyone take a position opposite of me.  Especially my friends.  And I’m laughing because the more you try to grow, the more life/karma/God seems to test you.  “If you want to go there,” it says, “let’s see how far you’re willing to walk … barefoot!”

Lesson learned – Free speech doesn’t mean I won’t get pissed.  Free speech doesn’t mean it’s not okay to get pissed.  Free speech doesn’t mean it’s free.  The cost?  We make that decision.

Lesson learned – Work on keeping the cost down.

DAG

That Girl

Unless you’re blind and deaf with absolutely no way to receive communication you know that a new Fox reality TV show is hosted by a girl whose name dominated headlines not too long ago.  In fact because of her previous publicity everything she does is … I was going to say news, but that’s way off.  It’s reported … by the media.  Print and broadcast.  And because it’s reported what better (??) person to host a reality show.  Instant high Q rating to translate to high share ratings, which it did.

The media has taken positions on whether giving her this show is a good thing.

For the pro side, it’s let bygones be bygones.  She was a victim.  Let her get on with her life.

The cons say to be rewarded by getting a television show is an insult/disrespect to the people who have legitimately worked hard in this business.

Now two true stories.

This Easter a Christian mother told her non-regularly attending church daughter that parishioners were always asking about her.  The mother tells them something vague.  The daughter says – well tell them I’m Buddhist.  She’s actually a spiritualist (another commentary).  The mother immediately tells her daughter she needs to get on her knees (to pray).  The daughter (being facetious) says – well at least I’d get a television show.

Two female friends discuss whether that girl should get a show.  The argument centers on being rewarded for doing what she did.  One finally says what difference does it make.  All women sell (for want of another term) themselves.  The wife wants something, she cooks hubby his favorite meal and acts real nice that night.  The little girl wants something she shows the big blues / browns to daddy and says – please.  We’re taught this from birth.  The only questions are “for how much” and “when will I get paid.”  That girl is getting paid.

Her getting a television show for being infamous makes it much harder to teach a value system to kids.

The fact that she’s given a show, the media reports this over and over and over, and the show is watched by millions, makes it much harder to believe we (including moi) have a value system to teach or that we’re qualified to be the teachers.

So who sold themselves for the highest price and when do we get paid?

No lessons learned.