Contemporary free speech and its consequences

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Tuesday, October 4, 2011


Contemporary free speech and its consequences

Its ironic that ESPN would boot Hank Williams Jr from the opening song of Monday Night Football for speaking his mind. The song "All my rowdy friends" was yanked from the air after 20 years because of remarks Williams made on "Fox and Friends." Williams told anchor Brian Kilmeade, according to ESPN, that he thought Speaker of the House John Boehner playing golf with the president "would be like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu...In the shape this country is in?" Kilmeade said he didn't understand the analogy. Williams replied, "I'm glad you don't, brother, because a lot of people do. They're the enemy."

Anchor Gretchen Carlson reminded Williams that he used the name of one of history's most hated men to describe the president. Williams replied, "Well that's true. But I'm telling you like it is." Williams later issued this statement through his publicist: "Some of us have strong opinions and are often misunderstood. My analogy was extreme -- but it was to make a point. I was simply trying to explain how stupid it seemed to me -- how ludicrous that pairing was. They're polar opposites and it made no sense. They don't see eye-to-eye and never will. I have always respected the office of the president." Seems like there is a lot of clarification going on these days between what people mean and what they say.

People usually say what they mean the first time around. There are many ways we as Americans can take the actions of ESPN. One is that while people have a right to free speech and to say what is on their mind, there often will be consequences to their words. Words have meaning and if the powers that be do not like what you say, they may take action against you. Williams was well within his rights to say what he wanted about the politicians. And ESPN didn't want to leave the impression that Williams spoke for the network, so they dropped him. Not unlike what the networks did with Jimmy the Greek and even Howard Cosell when they made what was considered racial remarks.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." I find it strange, however, that the news media does not seem to mind when leftists like Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, the president, and others call law abiding Americans--the people they were voted to represent--racists, barbarians, terrorists or the same as Hitler or bin Laden. They are still invited to throw out the first pitch at the baseball games or stand at midfield during the toss of the coin at football games. Williams was saying that Boehner and the president were political enemies, like Hitler and Netanyahu would be. Sure the comparison was extreme, but it is far less than politicians calling their fellow Americans even worse--for out of the abundance of the heart...

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson