Allow me to preface this by stating that I, personally, think "Beauty Pageants" should have gone the way of the DoDo bird decades ago (and for cripes sake, spare us the BS about Pageants being about anything but looks...I'll buy that when an unattractive but highly intelligent woman wins). And I think Perez Hilton is a putz and his vapid blog about as significant as the Jerry Springer show. But neither of those facts are relevant to this discussion.
In Case you missed this tempest in a teapot and non-newsworthy item, last Sunday was the Miss USA pageant. One of the contestants, Carrie Prejean, during the interview segment, was asked a question in regard to Gay Marriage by Perez Hilton. The contestant came in second, and after the Pageant Perez bashed the contestant and her opinion on his blog. Since then, both Perez and Prejean have been doing the talk show circuits defending their positions.
In several of the internet communities I belong to this has turned into major debate fodder with some claiming that the situation is an example of how Freedom of Speech (for conservative Christians, In their opinion) is being taken away. Here is a typical exchange:
"How has Freedom of Speech been compromised in any way?"
"He was wrong, he crucified her for expressing that she was raised a certain way...How many young women watching this farce of a pageant would EVER speak up knowing that some pieceof**** is going to go on camera and call her a **** for doing so... SO YES freedom of speach was compromised because when she spoke up she was called a plethora of ugly names for doing so.."
I have to wonder about our educational system when it appears that so many adults seem to think that "Freedom of Speech" means freedom from criticism, judgement and negative reactions to what you have to say.
It also boggles my mind how many believe that (brace yourself for this "logic") protecting Freedom of Speech for some, means you should be able to take away the Freedom of Speech for others:
It doesn't matter one bit that Perez was unprofessional and disgusting, he was exercizing HIS right to free speech. He was voicing his opinion of her and her views and he is protected by the right of free speech which allows him to express those opinions
"You keep saying the same thing over and over again.. and I will say this one more time.. I get what you are trying to say here about freedom to voice your opinion etc.. blah blah blah... BUT at the end of the day, what he did affects how others will express themselves in the FUTURE.. Some young women will think.. shoot, I better answer how they want me to or else I will be called a C in front of millions as well... which indirectly affects freedom of speech...Perezfatass should be held accountable for that, he shouldn't be able to spew those dicusting things about a beautiful young girl....she should sue...and he should be made an example of so others aren't afraid to state their beliefs!!!"
To me, the whole notion that "some young woman may be afraid to express herself in the future" is nothing but a cop-out and an excuse to attempt to censor what people say and their opinions. There are always going to be people who dislike what we have to say, and, yes, sometimes those people are going to have platforms that give them a wide audience to bash us and our opinions..that's just life. You either choose to have your voice heard, or you stay silent..either way it is a choice, and that choice is yours, and yours alone it has NOTHING to do with the ability of someone else to take away your freedom of speech.
I guess some people believe in "Freedom of Speech" only for those whose views they agree with and whose persona they find to be palatable, screw everyone else. It makes me sick and sincerely pisses me off!
Why don't people get that if you silence someone like Perez because you don't like what he has to say you open the door to having yourself silenced because someone doesn't like what you have to say?
