Responsibility must attend free speech
A few months ago I received via e-mail a collection of very embarrassing photos of first lady Michelle Obama. Everyone knows that even the most glamorous movie star can be subject to photos that can be very unflattering, and these were very much so. They were mean-spirited and sent as such.
It was just the beginning. The political rhetoric in this country has reached an absurd level. Politicians are now considered “targets” by some of their opponents and actually displayed like that! “Target” has become an operative word, and (wouldn’t you know?) a disturbed mind would know exactly how to handle that! Is it any surprise that a disturbed mind could find justification in using the slogan: “If ballots don’t work, bullets will” — as one Florida candidate in the last election advocated.
Political rhetoric has gotten out of control and one innocent congresswomen, a judge and 18 other innocents have had to pay a very high price. Free speech is a right under our Constitution, but it comes with a responsibility. Pundits and newspeople have to reassess their responsibility as well. It seems that some news people have come too close to “inciting the people” instead of “exciting the people”. It is time to exact some reasonable controls over them.
Judy Arenas
Arlington Heights