by Donna Marie Gray

Created on: September 03, 2010

Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are two of the most important freedoms America has. We take pride that we can criticize the things we don’t like without repercussions, and that the press is allowed to print all sides of a story regardless of public or government opinion. However, as with all things handed to individuals, many take advantage of the freedoms we are suppose to enjoy.

Common sense should tell us there are areas in which we need to consider such things as national security, public safety and international issues, to name a few, in which our freedoms could cause undesirable results. The press is too free with information that hypes an issue to the point of bordering on fiction. As a result, the people become enraged because they do not take the time to evaluate and verify what they read.

Freedom of speech is often abused by those who feel it is their right to say things that are harmful, hateful, threatening and otherwise not appropriate, even in spite of freedom of speech. The freedom of speech and of the press was not intended to take the place of intelligence, nor to give stupidity an open forum. Thus, overstepping the boundaries of good taste, these freedoms are very often taken too far.

It is difficult these days to be out in public without hearing people, young and old, using foul language. It has become part of their normal speech pattern and they think it is their right to speak however they choose. But, it doesn’t make it right. And again, when given a right, there are many who will take advantage. Most of these abusers of rights only know they have that right, but they don’t have any idea where or how that right originated.

When the press oversteps their right they could be jeopardizing the outcome of war, government issues, someone’s personal integrity or sending out information that the wrong people can use against us. Access to information is so easily obtained, is it necessary to put it in print for the whole world to see?

One of the best arguments for using self-control in the press is when a story details the making of explosive materials, along with pictures on putting it together. We have all read about someone being arrested for setting off a “home made” bomb. Not many of us would know how to do that. However, when some eager reporter gets the story, they feel the need to explain to us how it is done.

I don’t advocate taking away our rights. I believe that there are too many people who abuse these rights for no good purpose. The use of common sense and good taste would go a long way in ensuring that we have the intelligence to handle the freedoms we enjoy.

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