With freedoms come responsibility & consequences

Submitted by T Anderson (United States), Apr 3, 2003 at 22:19

Freedom of speech is not the issue. Certainly Dr. DeGenova has a right in this great country to say whatever he wishes. Many, many men have died for him to have that right. The point is that with the right to free speech comes a responsibility. It is his responsibility to not incite violence or to condone violence. Additionally, he must acknowledge that there are potential consequences to his actions. While he has the right to say whatever he wants, I have the right to be offended. While he has the right to participate in a teach-in denouncing American servicemen and women, I have the right to ask that his offensive comments cost him his job. While he has a right to wish for the deaths of 18 million American GIs, I have a right to respond to his comments by asking my congressman to sign a letter to the President of Columbia, demanding DeGenova's job!

We all have rights. Those rights come with responsibilities. Exercising those rights in an irresponsible manner has consequences.

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