To diverge briefly from the knitting and crafting content that takes up much of this blog, I’m actually going to talk about something community and politics related for a change. You know, that other stuff I promise to talk about but don’t get to, since it takes more effort than putting up a picture of some pretty yarn and I find myself with lots of ideas of things to write that I don’t quite get around to.

However, this topic has been popping up in various ways lately so I think that means it’s  a good time to write about it. So let’s just start by laying out something that appears to be a really novel concept for most people and go from there.

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequences.

There. I said it. That big ole elephant in the room, the one calmly munching on peanuts while we make polite conversation about the drapes and the weather.

Much ado has been made lately about Helen Thomas and the remarks she made regarding Israel–specifically when she said that Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine.” Now, I’m not here to debate the relative merits of Ms. Thomas’ statement, nor the general issues surrounding Israeli statehood. This is not the discussion for that, and because I like to maintain a relatively low-drama blog, it probably never will be.

What I am going to talk about the commentary I’ve seen regarding this issue. Not unsurprisingly given the incredible divisiveness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict some public figures, including former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, have called for Ms. Thomas to be fired. Others have defended her. Neither of these positions are an earth shaking revelation, but what interests me is the number of comments that basically boil down to “freedom of speech” as a defense as to why Ms. Thomas should suffer no ill consequences for her statement.

Here’s the thing though. Ms. Thomas–and anyone else–is not immune to consequences of her speech. Speech may be free, and it is. No one is arresting her for making that statment. No government body is destroying books that express similar views. But freedom is not immunity from consequences. I am completely free to walk into, say, a bar full of Florida fans and yell “Go ‘Noles!” but that doesn’t mean I’m guaranteed to have a positive reception. (Note to anyone thinking of trying this: wear full body armor. And possibly a sword.)

This is something that seems to have been largely lost on the American public, as evidenced by both our political discourse and the behavior seen in online communities. The prevailing attitude seems to be that just because of free speech, you are entitled to say pretty much anything you want in any venue, and anyone who dare suggest that it is not the appropriate occassion is surpressing your rights.

Where is this coming from? Is it a result of a tragic failure of education that results when most civics and government teachers seem to be hired more for their football coaching abilities than their academic chops? A generation or four so accustomed to being told they are special and never hearing the word no for fear it would damage their precious self-esteem that they are so massively entitled they genuinly don’t understand that actions have conseqences? The terrified gasps of a majority who, after treating any number of minorities horribly, is reeling from the concept that they may not be in power forever and desperately hiding their head in the sands to avoid any inkling of the fact that actions do have consequences? A society that has gone so far in rebellion against authority and formality that there is no concept of approriateness or thinking before you speak? Some combination of the above?

Regardless of the source, the fact holds true–you are free to speak your mind, but you are not immune to the consequences. It doesn’t matter if you are a member of the White House press corps or a poster on a forum. You are free to say whatever you like–but you are not so special that you do not have to incur the consequences of that speech. If you are a politician and you say something incredibly dumb/bigoted/just plain crazy, expect that a lot of people will not vote for you. If you work in a public position and you say something controversial, expect that it may affect your job. If you are on a website and you say something that violates the sites guidelines, expect that it–or you–may be removed.

Are there times when that is a battle worth fighting? Of course. But if the freedom of speech argument is trotted out every time someone says something stupid, bigoted, crazy, or just plain ill-advised, then those situations get drowned out in the mire. So maybe we could all do with thinking a little bit more before we speak…or type.