Consequences For Actions, Again
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on May 7, 2009
A few days ago, there was a news story stating that the United Kingdom had decided to list 26 people as undesirables and thus wouldn't allow them into the country. It's an interesting list, because not only are there terrorists on the list, which one could easily understand, but one of them is an American radio host. I'm not mentioning his name because I don't agree with his politics, but he's listed among people whom they consider as "fostering extremism or hatred".
Of course, this radio host hasn't reacted well, and is using this for both his own publicity and do, well, basically be what he is, which is someone who likes to stir the pot and get things going. He's demanded an apology from the British government, which we all know isn't coming.
This led to an interesting discussion I was having with someone else about this man's right to say whatever he wanted to say without being "persecuted" for it. This friend of mine doesn't support what this radio host says, just feels that he should be allowed to say it and not have to worry about how others respond to his words.
I take the opposite view, of course. I've always stated here and other places that when one decides they're in the mood to take a position on anything, they have to be ready to accept the consequences, no matter what they are, and deal with it in whatever way they feel is necessary. In America these days, one doesn't just walk up to someone and try to object to something, no matter what it is, without first wondering if the other person is going to pull out a weapon and either hurt or kill them. Sure, it may be an overreaction, but that's what our society has come to, no matter what the issue is.
Does this mean that we're a country of over-reactionaries? Well, it might mean that, but it might mean that we're a society that's come to grips with the fact that we don't feel a sense of security anymore, that dangers lurk around every corner, even sometimes in our own homes, and the law and legal system seems to be geared towards making sure the protection of the criminal's rights aren't being breached as opposed to making sure the rest of us feel safe and secure in our every day lives.
In a sense, dealing with consequences of actions is the biggest concern of leaders around the world. Some days are fine and they can relax and do things such as hold meetings with sports teams. Other days, they might have to call for military action to quell an uprising. In our daily lives, leaders, or managers, end up putting out a lot of fires that had more to do with some action that no one was expecting, and thus the consequences require a resolution to end the issue. Sometimes, these actions occur because someone said something, not because they did anything, or a piece of equipment failed, or anything of the sort.
Every time someone writes a blog post, such as I'm doing now, or writes something elsewhere using their own name, or spouts some tripe on a radio show, they invite others to either agree or disagree with them. Few of us get to choose how someone is going to respond to us, unless we're standing in front of them; that seems to take the bite out of many people at times.
So, this radio host has suffered the indignity of being censored by a country that doesn't have a true freedom of speech statute; get over it. Just like another DJ within the last couple of years, he's learning that one doesn't get to rile others up and spout hateful speech without sometimes dealing with unintended consequences. None of us do; get over it.
I think you should have the right to say whatever you want, but you shouldn’t have the right to thinking everyone will like and respect you regardless of what you say. If a country feels they need to keep out a certain element to keep a certain state of well being, they have the right to I guess.
~ Kristi
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Hi Kristi; thanks for the comment. It’s a tough call because, as Americans, sometimes we tend to want everyone else to be like us, without thinking that sometimes we wish we weren’t necessarily all like us. lol We all get to make our choices, and we all should be ready to deal with the consequences of those choices, no matter what.