Free Speech Requires That I Not Be Criticized for What I Say

There is a brouhaha in Wisconsin -and apparently around the country- after a gratuitous anti-war comment from an on-line store to an American soldier in Iraq. However:

Anti-war and free speech advocates were equally offended, by the widespread criticism of the company and the individual who responded to the soldier.

"This is a matter of free speech," said Julie Enslow, an organizer with Peace Action Wisconsin in Milwaukee. "It is totally irresponsible for radio stations and bloggers to attack a person for his personal political views."

Well, Julie, that's what free speech is all about. Freedom to speak free of government sanction, and the freedom to criticize others' speech. Get used to it. And perhaps you should bone up on just what constitutes free speech and what doesn't.

The government hasn't expressed any interest in attacking him. In fact they are concerned about protecting him from any possible danger. He made a comment in a reply to a business inquiry, and now he and likely his employer will bear both criticism and applause from other people exercising their right to free speech.

It's a shame for his employer that either they had no policy on such comments, or that he didn't follow policy. Still, I am left with the impression that the employers are standing up for the comment, so whatever criticism or loss of sales they suffer will be a result of their response. If they have a problem with that, they should repudiate the original comment as not being company policy.

Annysa Johnson has the story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.