Ignorant free speech often works against the speaker. That is one of several reasons why it must be given rein instead of suppressed.
quote by Anna Quindlen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own.
quote by Herbert Hoover
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If a university official's letter accusing a speaker of having a proclivity to commit speech crimes before she's given the speech - which then leads to Facebook postings demanding that Ann Coulter be hurt, a massive riot and a police-ordered cancellation of the speech - is not hate speech, then there is no such thing as hate speech.
quote by Ann Coulter
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nor was it only from the millions of slaves that chains had been removed; the whole nation had been in bondage; free speech had been suppressed.
quote by Matthew Simpson
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To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.
quote by Frederick Douglass
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Sonnet: There Are Reasons for All Things
There must be reasons for the shaking leaves;
There must be reasons for the swaying trees;
There must be reasons for the drying sheaves;
There must be reasons causing any breeze.
There must be reasons for the waves at sea;
There must be reasons for ripples in pond;
There must be reasons for the sea briny;
There must be reasons for a mutual bond.
There must be reasons for the changing climes;
There must be reasons for both drought and rain;
There must be reasons for good and bad times;
There must be reasons for a boon or bane.
There must be reasons for all things on earth;
But not much reasons why men sin since birth!
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Let It Rein Let It Rain
Few can dispute the fact that love is the principle in which everything in heaven and earth anchors upon. This poem is about love and how that love rules and should be made to emanate from our every day life.
In the universe it reins
The heavens and the earth it rains
It reins it rains
In every good it reins
From every good it rains
It reins it rains
On the cross it reins
From the cross it rains
It reins it rains
In heaven it reins
From heaven it rains
It reins it rains
From the earth let it rain
In the earth let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From the heart let it rain
In the heart let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From every action let it rain
In every action let rein
Let it rain let it rein
From every word let it rain
In every word let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From every handshake let it rain
In every handshake let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From your feet let it rain
In your feet let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From every gaze let it rain
In every gaze let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From every event let it rain
In every event let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From your occupation let it rain
In your occupation let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From charity let it rain
In charity let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From everywhere let it rain
In everywhere let it rein
Let it rain let it rein
From everybody let it rain
In everybody let rein
Let it rain let it rein
So let love rain
So let love rein
So let it rain let it rein
poem by Obed Akuma
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Mr Speaker Gets The Word
Wriggles from his captors arms
Mr speaker gets the word and
Running now from the alarms
Speaks his mind free as a bird
Free now to roam around
Stand up straight when he quotes
Spread the word that he has found
Books of verse and scribbled notes
Mister speaker gets the word
(to tell the secrets he has heard)
Speaks so fast his words are slurred
(mister speaker gets the word)
Stands up straight outside my door
I bring you now the words Ive learned
To whom it may concern senor
Tell my friends I have returned
Mister speaker gets the word
(to tell the secrets he has heard)
Speaks so fast his words are slurred
(mister speaker gets the word)
Excitement rages through his brain
Stirred and stirred throughout the years
Not enough time to explain
Eyes of many sighs of fear
Making space from colney hatch lane
Just some poetry my friend
Scuttles past my window frame
Vanishes right round the bend
Mister speaker gets the word
(to tell the secrets he has heard)
Speaks so fast his words are slurred
(mister speaker gets the word)
song performed by by Madness
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mr Speaker
Wriggles from his captors arms
Mr speaker gets the word and
Running now from the alarms
Speaks his mind free as a bird
Free now to roam around
Stand up straight when he quotes
Spread the word that he has found
Books of verse and scribbled notes
Mister speaker gets the word
(to tell the secrets he has heard)
Speaks so fast his words are slurred
(mister speaker gets the word)
Stands up straight outside my door
I bring you now the words Ive learned
To whom it may concern senor
Tell my friends I have returned
Mister speaker gets the word
(to tell the secrets he has heard)
Speaks so fast his words are slurred
(mister speaker gets the word)
Excitement rages through his brain
Stirred and stirred throughout the years
Not enough time to explain
Eyes of many sighs of fear
Making space from colney hatch lane
Just some poetry my friend
Scuttles past my window frame
Vanishes right round the bend
Mister speaker gets the word
(to tell the secrets he has heard)
Speaks so fast his words are slurred
(mister speaker gets the word)
song performed by by Madness
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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On Paper. Not In Reality.
Don't be foolish.
Of course you are entitled to your opinion.
Aren't we living in a society,
That welcomes free speech?
'Yes...
But it seems to me that...'
Next! ?
'I thought you said we live in a society,
That welcomes free speech? '
On paper.
Not in reality.
I've 'earned' my free speech.
Haven't you noticed how I select my words?
Only 'then' are you free to do so as well.
Next?
I will take two more opinions,
And that will be it!
No...
Not yours.
The good looking one,
From the state of Connecticut!
May I have your opinion, please?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Free Speech!
free speech....
as long as you comply,
as long as what you say
is profitable... for them...
as long as what you say
doesnt ruffle feathers...
as long as what you say
isnt the truth....
free speech....
in spite of, irregardless of,
because we must....
because if we dont,
it goes away!
free speech...
whatever the cost!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You Are Not So Much Ignorant To Be Over Confident
Do not be over confident
You are not so much ignorant
To be over confident that
You do not have any problem
In life wise finds full of them,
Do not worry as worries are not
Going to solve rather aggravate them.
Heed to my suggestion and go to market
Buy a washing machine, feed him free power
Free electric and free water and feel free
To ask him to take in those problems
To twist, to turn, to knock, to kick
To make cleaner, better and brighter
Than before and I assure you, it is confident
Not to cheat you as it is too much ignorant.
poem by Abdul Wahab
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Paper Men To Air Hopes And Fears
The first speaker said
Fear fire. Fear furnaces
Incinerators, the city dump
The faint scratch of a match.
The second speaker said
Fear water. Fear drenching rain
Drizzle, oceans, puddles, a damp
Day and the flush toilet.
The third speaker said
Fear wind. And it needn't be
A hurricane. Drafts, open
Windows, electric fans.
The fourth speaker said
Fear knives. Fear any sharp
Thing, machine, shears
Scissors, lawnmowers.
The fifth speaker said
Hope. Hope for the best
A smooth folder in a steel file.
poem by Robert Francis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Make no laws whatever concerning speech, and speech will be free; so soon as you make a declaration on paper that speech shall be free, you will have a hundred lawyers proving that "freedom does not mean abuse, nor liberty license"; and they will define and define freedom out of existence. Let the guarantee of free speech be in every man's determination to use it, and we shall have no need of paper declarations. On the other hand, so long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.
quote by Voltairine de Cleyre
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Reasons
Set my sails out on a sunny day
Pretty soon I was on my way
Though what for sure it was
I could not say
Two thousand reasons
Maybe more
Eight hundred chances on faraway shores
Searching for something
Searching for more
Deep down inside me burning
Reasons for the learning
Now you can pick up reasons so easily
Where youve been and where youve got to be
And when the truth dont show youll always see
Lots of reasons
And pretty soon youve got a heavy load
Dragging those reasons down an endless road
I got to thinking and I got to see
So many reasons coming at me
The one that leaves you high and dry
He says you still owe him, theres a reason why
Hell leave you crying till the tears run dry
Hes the one, always the one with all the reasons
So many reasons the come and they go
The reasons for them Ill never know
Ive seen so many, theyve come and theyve gone
Ive turned all mine in and Im happy with one
So dont talk of friendship, do it to me
Make me an offer and make it for free
Dont give me reasons cos I wrote that song
I only want love now so Ill just take the one
song performed by by Chris Rea
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Free speech is meant to protect unpopular speech. Popular speech, by definition, needs no protection.
quote by Neal Boortz
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Fill your mouth with marbles and make a speech. Every day reduce the number of marbles in your mouth and make a speech. You will soon become an accredited public speaker -- as soon as you have lost all your marbles.
quote by Brooks Hays
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There's Not Too Many Reasons
There's not too many reasons,
I would...
Set aside my pride.
And there's...
Not too many reasons,
I would...
Not have a peaceful sleep at night.
No!
There's not too many reasons,
Why I...
Wouldn't eat or wish to feel that need.
Or...
Feel a hopelessness inside me,
Without you.
No!
There's not too many reasons,
Why I could not cope.
And...
There's not too many reasons,
Why I'd give up hope.
And...
There's not too many reasons,
Why I'd be on knees.
No...
There's not too many reasons,
Why I could not eat.
And...
There's not too many reasons,
Why I could not sleep.
Or believe there's a me to live and breathe,
Without you.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rituals That Appal
Cumbersome rituals appal the mind,
The wits are affected by this ritual.
The mind is troublesome to the eloquent speech,
One speaks loudest when affected.
The whole piety of a speaker is about,
Wanting the air of a seminary.
A doddering dwarf has reminded us
Of his walk in the holy region.
The rituals of his stupid speech
Are around the house of words.
poem by Naveed Akram
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Down With The Thief!
Thump goes the speech, slanted at the crowd,
We profoundly undergo changes from this message.
To scrawl on the wall for benefits and facts
Perplexes the youth, let the speech be free of illness.
Empty is the talk, empty are the pockets of boys
Who steal knowledge from the brave and the old
Can be free.
Monsters pronounce the names,
Speech buries us under the ground.
For the conversation spills into speech,
And water transforms into ice
That cannot be drunk.
Thumping speeches have a message for the crowd
That thieves cannot master.
poem by Naveed Akram
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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