FREE SPEECH - REALLY "FREE"?

'Well, well, I'll try and not mention it again since you're so sensitive. You must excuse me, Anne. I've got a habit of being outspoken and folks mustn't  mind it.'

'But they can't help minding it. And I don't think it's any help that it's your habit. What would you think of a person who went about sticking pins and needles into people and saying "Excuse me, you mustn't mind it.... it's just a habit I've got" You'd think he was crazy, wouldn't you?'

(Excerpt from "Anne of Avonlea" by L.M. Montgomery)

These days, tact and diplomacy are on the way out. In fact, they have become the bywords for hypocrisy. Being in-your-face straightforward, honesty and free speech is in. And with the internet, one can become very in-your-face without physically being in anyone's face. Very convenient.

I have always had problems with individuals who profess to be outspoken and who like to "call a spade a spade". To be honest, I tend to avoid them like the plague. It is not only that they happen to be honest almost exclusively about stuff that people don't want to hear. It is also that a lot of them have the concept that free speech should literally be "free". Free of consequences, that is.

I am a firm supporter of discretion being the better part of valour. But while I personally think that some hypocrisy is necessary to keep civilisation going as we know it, I also accept that it takes all kinds to make up this society. I can respect the honest individual, as long as he accepts that there may be consequences to his honesty and deals with them in accordingly. This person is the one who says "I am only being honest but I also accept that you have a right to be angry with me."

The problem is that many of these supposedly outspoken individuals wield the honesty, anti-hypocrisy banners like some "Get out of jail free" card. These are the people who says "I am only being honest mah, why so angry?" They think the standard disclaimer of "I am very outspoken and honest one lah. So don't angry hor." entitles them to say whatever they want without being called on it. And if you do, it only shows that you are a over-sensitive, narrow minded prig who obviously have no concept of human rights and free speech. In my books, that is literally adding insult to injury.

"Time for the speeches," annouced the king (of Dictionapolis) as the plates were removed and everyone looked glum. "You first," he commanded, pointing to Milo.

"Your majesty, ladies and gentlemen," started Milo timidly, "I would like to take this opportunity to say that in all the ---"

"That's quite enough," snapped the king. "Mustn't take all day."

"But I'd just begun," objected Milo.

"NEXT!" bellowed the king.

"Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, vanilla ice cream," recited the Humbug, bouncing up and down quickly.

"What a strange speech," thought Milo, for he'd heard many in the past and knew that they were supposed to be long and dull.

"Fish and chips, raspberry jelly, chocolate pudding - p-u-d-d-i-n-g," said the Spelling Bee in his turn.

"Tomato soup, sausages, strawberry jam," shouted Officer Shrift from his chair. since he was taller sitting down than standing up.

And so down the line it went, with each guest rising briefly, making a short speech and then resuming his place. When everyone had finished, the king rose.

"Pate de foie gra, soupe a l'oignon, faisan sous cloche, salade endive, fromages et fruts et demi-tasse," he said carefully and clapped his hands again.

The waiters reappeared immediately, carrying heavy, hot trys, which they set on the table. Each one contained the exact words spoken by the various guests, and they all began eating immediately with great gusto.

"Dig in," said the king, poking Milo with his elbow and looking disapprovingly at his plate. "I can't say that I think much of your choice."

"I didn't know that I was going to have to eat my words," objected Milo.

"Of course, of course, everyone here does," the king grunted, "You should have made a tastier speech."

Milo looked around at everyone busily stuffing himself and then back at his own unappetizing plate. It certainly didn't look worth eating, and he was so very hungry.


(Excerpt from "The Phantom Tollbooth", by Norton Juster)

By the way, that is one of the consequences of practising free speech. If a little hypocrisy prevents consequences like this, I am all for it. I certainly don't like to eat my words anymore than Milo did. You can have them if you want.