From the Soap Box

 

You may have heard it said, "Get up on your Soap Box and say something about that." Or maybe you heard it differently - "Get off your Soap Box and stop talking." This common phrase preceded the days of mass media, when in order to be heard, you layed down your crate, stepped up, and lifted your voice above the crowd.

Freedom of speech is much like good health - easily neglected and often unappreciated until it's gone. Many live in the land of free speech, but strangely know nothing of its true meaning. It's for good reason that it's constitutionally protected, for it's one those essential things that preserves human dignity. It's the ability to say what you think whether others agree. In this day of unprecedented power in the hands of mass media and public communications, it's not unusual that an outspoken minority silences the voice of a dissenting majority. And it's rather odd that many so-called proponents of freedom of choice are, in reality, mere proponents of the freedom to express what THEY believe, and would prefer to silence the voice of dissent.