I read in another thread a quote which is frequently bandied about. This quote has been around a long time and many people have used it. The quote:
"While I do not agree with you sir, I will defend your right to the death to say it."
How many in here would actually sacrifice their life for someone else's right to say something or have an opinion? It sounds nice and it looks good in conversation, but I sincerely doubt that most people who use the phrase actually mean it.
First, what they really mean is, I don't want to lose MY right to free speech. I'm with you on that.
Secondly, except in the most dire circumstances (i.e. change to totalitarian government or something like that), it would be incredibly unproductive to die so someone else can say something. There are much better ways to secure or fight for that right while your still alive.
In our society today, if some person were standing on the corner preaching the gospel (or espousing communism, or whatever ideology you disagree with) in a very loud manner and the police came up to run him off or arrest him (legal arrest or not), how many in here would die to help this man say what he had to say? A show of hands please. I bet not one. You could fight this fight in a different manner, but for the most part, apathy would rule the day.
Now, if you were to place yourself in his shoes, and you felt that they may come for you in that same manner, perhaps you might be motivated to become more involved.
Perhaps the outdated phrase should be:
"I will fight to the death for my right to free speech and personal opinion."
VES