What exactly is freedom of speech? Where does this freedom end? Just because I have the freedom of speech can I really say whatever I want to say? My words may hurt someone, my words may humiliate someone, so should I have the freedom without any constraints? If there are constraints then my freedom gets curtailed. So what exactly is freedom of speech?
In this world, we have all kinds of people. Some people are naturally different as per the region that they belong to. Their physical characteristics are different, their colour is different. Since we belong to different parts of the world with different climates, there are differences in food, way of living, dress, habits and practices. Besides this we have differences that are created by society as it evolves. These are the differences of Religion, caste, and language.
Differences lead to comparisons and comparisons lead to competition. Competition leads to complexes. Complexes could be superiority or inferiority complexes which then leads to intolerance.We get steeped in our own practices and think that what the other is doing is wrong. We then start offending people by making fun of them. When the jokes go to the extremes then retaliation starts.
So I wonder really, should I have absolute freedom of speech to actually say what I want, even if it hurts someone else?
Why should anyone have the right to denigrate anyone else, based on his religion, way of dressing or food habits?
Should we all not be tolerant of each other and accept people as they are?
Are we living under the jungle law where the universal truth is "survival of the fittest"? The other universal truth of the jungle is that no animal kills another just because the other one is different. They kill only when they prey, they kill to eat and survive. They do not simply slaughter another type of animal. I have seen in Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti in Tanzania how different species of animals live very peacefully together in the same forest area. Even though a lioness will go to prey on a wildebeest or zebra, she will not slaughter randomly.
On the other hand we "civilised" human beings do not have respect and tolerance for each other. We make fun of women, Sardars, Jews, Scotsmen. We actually pick on them generally. In the extreme we slaughter, we kill, we are intolerant of people who are different from us. Is this what civilisation is all about?
Those whom we call animal have no language and so have no freedom of speech.
We who have a language to speak, discuss, converse and find solutions through talks do not always use words to find solutions. We often use them to rebuke, offend and make fun of others.
I really wonder what freedom of speech is all about.
