FREEDOMLESS SPEECH

            In the United States the concept of freedom of speech is very different from how it is perceived in other countries.  We tolerate such things as pornography and the Westboro Baptist Church as an example of free speech rights in our country.  Many of us feel free to share our opinions and views of any topic over the internet with reckless abandon.  We often feel if you're offended by our opinion then don’t read it.  People in other countries can’t share their opinions and views without facing governmental consequences for someone being offended.

            In Taiwan a blogger was sentenced to 30 days detention, given two years probation and fined for sharing her opinion about a restaurant.  She felt the restaurant was unsanitary and the food was salty.  It was considered a criminal offense and a judge told the blogger she shouldn’t have said the food was too salty since she only tried one dish.  Maybe she shouldn’t have said it was unsanitary because she only saw one cockroach.  I wonder if anyone tried to discover if the judge had relatives with a financial interest in the offended restaurant.  I suppose food reviews in Taiwan are best if filled with lies and untruths because even if the restaurant sucks nobody is offended.

            In Germany you can’t give your child an invented name and you must name your child something that is gender specific.  I can only imagine how many names we’d have to ditch in our country.  Pat, Alex, Jordan and Paton are just a few.  In other countries the government doesn’t permit parents to name their children anything they interpret as “stupid” or would make the child a laughingstock.  I suppose when a child grows up and is stupid or becomes a laughingstock the government feels it won’t be because of their name.  Denmark provides its citizens with a list of 7,000 approved names you have to pick from.  If you would like to be an individual and ignore the name book you have to get approval by the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs and the Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs.  I wonder if these governmental organizations are also considered the Ministries of Nothing To Do But Annoy people.

            “You can’t name your child Mark it’s not in the book.”

            “But I like Mark and my wife likes Mark.  We think it’s a cool name.”

            “Unfortunately you need approval from the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs and Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs.”

            “Who should I ask for?”

            “Gottcha Sucker.”

            “Is that name in the book?”

            “It was after their family paid the proper amount required by the government.”

            “Oh.”

            Here in our country we have so much slang and foreign words incorporated into our language we never give it a second thought.  The French have an entire different take on things.  The French government forbids the use of foreign words in official documents, science papers, advertising and on radio or television.  A company found doing such a thing could be fined anywhere from $150 to $1,000 per offense.  I guess it’s a challenge for companies who want to advertise foreign products. 

            “What do you mean I’m being fined $1,000.00?”

            “Unfortunately you used the word iPad during your advertisement.”

            “That’s what we were selling, iPads from Apple Computer.  What should we do?”
            “Possibly call it “Le iPad.”

            “Does that mean if my company complies we’ll get no more fines?”

            “Maybe next time for using Le iPad you will get you only a $500.00 fine.”

            “Maybe what we should say is the governments full of Le Crap.”

            Here in the United States we tend to watch just about anything that appears on a television screen.  In China things are a bit different.  There the government has actually started banning certain reality television shows.  Last year they banned their version of “The Bachelor.”  I know it’s comforting that a place like China has a television program where shallow, self absorbed people try to score on television.  To think there are even shallow, empty headed Chinese willing to watch it.  I suppose our countries have more in common than we realize. 

            In one of the episodes a woman was going to give into a man’s interest for her with the only requirement being he gives her a BMW.  This upset Chinese officials who then banned the show.  Another female contestant on the show defended her co-start by stating the girl wasn’t doing anything wrong because she just asked for a BMW and nothing like a “Benz or Ferrari.”  Who knew slut status could be determined by the model of car requested in return for affection?

            In many European countries they still have blasphemy laws.  They’ve been used by Muslims most recently.  In Italy a journalist went to trial because of some rather negative comments she wrote about Islam and Muslims in a book titled “The Rage and the Pride.”  The truth really didn’t matter in this situation.  Her charge was offending a religion.  She had the final say as she got out of the trial by dying.  The charges were brought by a man named Adel Smith.  He has referred to a crucifix as a “miniature cadaver” and has tried to remove depictions of Christ on the Cross from all Italian schools.  (Sarcasm Alert)  How could any Christian be offended by the statements of Adel Smith?  I think both this judge and Adel Smith can be certain Santa Clause will go right past both their houses on Christmas.

            One of the best things about having the right to free speech is that you can state your opinions and feelings without fear of governmental retribution.  Nothing offends people or upsets the government more than the truth.  I guess it’s better to tolerate the obnoxious, ignorant people who abuse free speech rights than to silence those of us who say things actually worth hearing. 

IF YOU LIKE MY HUMOR YOU'LL LOVE MY BOOKS. $2.99 KINDLE VERSIONS AVAILABLE. CLICK HERE!