Belief and speech

 Free speech. I listened to quite a long discussion on that topic the other day. Experts were discussing what should be taught in schools, what should be allowed on social media, and what parents should or shouldn't say. The primary focus was on what conservatives do not want taught in schools regarding sex, gender identity, and morality. There was some discussion about what the liberals want, but that was mostly dismissed. There was heated debate about what the first amendment actually means. As usual the liberal folks attempting to say it means anyone can say anything, at any time, to anyone. Much the same way liberals explain the second amendment allows the government to infringe upon your right to arms, even though it explicitly says the exact opposite.

 What wasn't discussed is when choice of vocabulary is age or socially appropriate. I was waiting for that discussion, but it never happened. There was discussion about not teaching critical race theory in schools, especially elementary schools, and how that was limiting free speech. That it was just racist not to do so. That "progressive" argument was also used for promoting the discussing of sexual matters, gender identity and the LBGTQ+ people. 

 My question being, is that age appropriate? At what age do we need to instruct children in such behaviors? Is introducing those behaviors to children, in essence teaching those behaviors in prepubescence, reflected in the rise of such behaviors? Beyond that though, by allowing unrestricted free speech in language, are we abandoning moral values? I am thinking about the free use of profane words and gestures as an everyday thing, an acceptable form of expression. Listen to the language on television today and compare it to forty years ago. This is what our children are hearing, this is what our children will repeat, this is what our children will deem normal and acceptable. Gone are the days when off-color jokes and profane language were used with a hint of nervousness, a sense of impropriety. There is no moral restriction, all the while providing criminal penalties for what is deemed hate speech. A difficult concept for me to reconcile. I can say whatever I want, to whomever I want, whenever I want, but it shouldn't be hateful? Or it shouldn't go against community standards on Facebook. I recall the time before social media platforms defined what was acceptable and what was not. I remember when society in general determined such things. When the moral compass was the deciding factor. 

 My concern is not that speech is being restricted, I don't believe that it is. My concern is that people are misinterpreting what free speech is. It isn't saying whatever you want to say, any way you want to say it. Prudence in the choice of words and delivering those words in the proper social context is what is important. That is what is intended by freedom of speech. Any fool can curse! Introducing ideas, concepts or ideologies to children incapable of understanding such cannot be a good thing. 

 For me, all of that is a sign of societal decay. People generally deport themselves as they were taught as children. What are the children being taught today? That there are no rules? Just say and do whatever you like. Your actions, your choices aren't upsetting to others, it's the others that are upsetting you! It's the others that need to change, to accept your choices unconditionally. Instead of unity there is division. The others are divisive however, not you. If you simply allow others to do or say whatever they please how can that be divisive? It's those that insist upon order and discipline that are causing the problems. To be truly free you should be free of any obligations, any restraint, any societal pressure or influence. Timothy Leary, the 1960's guru of LSD famously encouraged his followers to Tune In, Turn On, and Drop Out. It's the same message today, just repackaged as "progressive." Well, it doesn't take a PhD to figure this out. When you remove all restraint, anything goes. And the result is usually, it goes south! Without anything holding things up, holding them together, they fall apart, they collapse. 

 Mutual belief is the glue in any society. The extent of that society is dependent upon the numbers of believers. It can be what we call a cult, a small group of individuals usually considered to be a bad thing, to Christians, Jews and Muslims. Their beliefs hold them together. All belief systems instruct the believer in the proper way to act within the society, or nation for that matter. The real problems begin when those within the group begin to modify those beliefs. That's what sects and denominations are all about. The basic belief is the same, IE: one god, but the directions received may vary greatly. When those beliefs begin to clash with the others, even those with the same belief, things go bad. The removal of belief altogether is the final stage. Then it's, every man for himself. One nation, without God (belief), has neither liberty, nor justice for all!