Liberty Bell

Some of you may have noticed the Blogger’s 1st Amendment on the side of this page. I believe that free speech is a vital part of human liberty. We have a right to our own opinions, and a right to express those opinions in a legal manner. The trouble comes when people misuse this right. And when people can’t handle the opinions of others. So politicians have reduced and are reducing our right to free speech.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

It is also interesting to note that Article 18 states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

Free speech is a right that, like the others, needs to be used with responsibility. The final article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 30, is:

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Gives you some food for thought…