Free Speech And Any Speech Aren’t The Same Thing
December 6th, 2008 by Scott BannonIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our free RSS newsfeed. Thank you for visiting!
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I came across an archived news story today about a professor from the University of Toledo who was dismissed from her position apparently because she wrote a column which questioned whether homosexuality is a civil rights issue or not.
Whether or not homosexuality is a civil rights issue isn’t what I want to debate though, mainly because I think it’s a silly argument to have been made and while I am a little shocked that a college professor would take such a position, I understand that ignorance exists at all levels.
What really struck me about the article–and the reason I wanted to comment on it despite that it’s several months old now– was a quote from Brian Rooney, spokesman for the Thomas More Law Center, where he condemned the dismissal of this professor saying “…our Constitution protects speech, and there shouldn’t be a consequence to that free speech…”
Let’s get the facts straight about this; free speech is not any speech. This professor wasn’t prevented from speaking her mind or publishing her column, she exercised her right to free speech.
However, being able to say whatever you want does not, and should not, protect you from consequences for saying any stupid thing you please. Everyone has the right to say whatever they want, but nobody is entitled to life free of consequence for their words or actions.
The University of Toledo did not infringe upon this professor’s right to free speech; it did not try to stop the column from being published. It simply acted within its rights to protect and project the image and values that the school wishes to stand for.
The University has just as much right to do that as the professor does to publicize her opinions and neither is free of consequence. By dismissing this professor the University of Toledo angered many far right Christian groups who are active and vocal, that’s the consequence for the University’s actions.
We enjoy many freedoms in this country and often take them for granted, but what we should never take for granted is that the freedom or right to do something does not grant immunity from consequence for what we do or say. Being free to speak our mind is not a license to live free of responsibility and accountability for what we say.
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3 Responses to “Free Speech And Any Speech Aren’t The Same Thing”
By Scott Bannon | Reply to article
Link to original article:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080514/employee-fired-over-anti-gay-column.htm
[Reply to this specific comment]
By B DiNome | Reply to article
There must be something more to this case than what’s reported here. UT is a public university, and therefore an agent of the state. Dismissing a professor merely on the basis of the content of her speech is patently unconstitutional and unlawful. Dig deeper into this story, please.
[Reply to this specific comment]
Scott Bannon reply on December 6th, 2008 6:00 pm:
Doubtful, the right to free speech does not protect you or your job from the consequences of what you say.
Free speech only means you are free to say it, it doesn’t mean you are absolved of responsibilities or accountabilities once you’ve said it.
If your words or actions violate the core values of your employer, whomever that may be, they have every right to separate you from themselves (in most states).
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