On Independence Day, Cindy Sheehan, bereaved mother of an Iraq war soldier and a full-time antiwar advocate, yet again freely and passionately voiced her opinions in a public forum.
Among other comments, she said, “We have to keep fighting for the right to do this.” The “this” to which she refers is the right to publicly proclaim her point of view.
It?s her right to criticize the government.
Beginning with brave settlers who fled religious and governmental tyranny, this country has stood as a global light of independence and freedom to individuals and nations throughout the world. Sure, we?ve made mistakes, but we?re still the best form of government going. And if you are unhappy here, you are free to leave, unlike many other lands.
These freedoms, including the right to disagree with government policies and to voice one?s opinions publicly without fear of government retribution or repression are the critical components of our national identity. Generations of men and women have fought, sacrificed and died, and continue to fight to protect our collective way of life.
That means that Sheehan isfree to be deluded. She has said that she would rather live under Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez than under President Bush. And it means the media is free to cover her bizarre proclamations as if she were a sane person making rational statements.
It also means that leggy blonde Ann Coulter is free to verbally firebomb liberals and they are free to respond.
Her latest best-seller, “Godless: The Church of Liberalism,” set off a firestorm. In case you haven?t heard, among a number of controversial opinions she writes, “I?ve never seen people enjoying their husbands? deaths so much,” of a group of New Jersey widows whose husbands died in the World Trade Center attacks.
The problem is that the controversy overshadowed some important points the book raised.
In order to be properly well-informed, perhaps you?ve taken the time to actually read the book. I didn?t say you had to buy it ? borrow a copy and hold your nose while wearing gloves, so that you can at least learn the context in which those remarks were made. You would then be able to give an informed rebuttal. You might even skim some other chapters to see if there were other topics which fired up your viewpoints one way or the other.
Many people believe the old adage “God helps those who help themselves,” is found in the Bible. Wrong. Ben Franklin is credited with that one.
Many people who have not recently (nor perhaps ever) read the U.S. Constitution loudly and confidently proclaim that it delineates a wall of separation between church and state. Wrong ? go read your Thomas Jefferson.
In other words, folks, it?s up to you to be well informed.
This is particularly true if you choose to go public with your opinions. Once Sheehan, or the “Jersey Girls” or even Coulter put themselves in the public forum by voicing their personal opinions, then it is fair for other voices in the public forum to voice their agreement or disagreement. It would be good for society if those responding studied the topics they opine about. Otherwise, the will to respect one another ? a basic underpinning of civil society ? dissolves.
Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, of New Jersey, opined on Tucker Carlson?s June 12 MSNBC show, “The Situation,” that Coulter was a “leech” who opinion “shouldn?t be making money from this.” She didn?t address the content of the book, just gave her opinion about it ? which comes dangerously close to a call to censor free speech.
But, after all, an opinion is neither right nor wrong, it?s simply an opinion. And in America, we?re all entitled to have one. Right?
Brooke Gunning is the author of several regional bestsellers, including “Maryland Thoroughbred Racing,” “Baltimore?s Halcyon Days” and “Towson and the Villages of Ruxton and Lutherville.” She currently is at work on her next book.
