Freedom of Speech; my response to Don Cherry controversy

“True power is living the realization that you are your own healer, hero, and leader.” 

Yung Pueblo  

My father in law was a hero in many ways. He served in the Canadian Armed Forces in the Second World War in the Reconnaissance; C Squadron, 11 troop, 8th Recce.  He was 18 years old when he signed up. Theo was injured near Caen in France in 1944 about a month after D Day, about 8 o'clock in the evening on July 15th. He was hit by several pieces of shrapnel from a bomb and one piece lodged in his spine. Paralysis in those days was incurable, basically those unfortunate enough to be para or quadriplegic from their injuries were put in a bed and never got out again, their bodies gradually shutting down until they died, on average they lived about two years. Theo never accepted this and he was his own healer, hero and leader, never giving up faith that he could walk again. He did it and forged a path for others to fight for their recoveries as well!  Through his force of will, determination and seriously hard work and though pain and complications continued throughout his life he continually beat all the odds and lived into his nineties. The strength and power he demonstrated from his choice to own his life was inspirational. The love he had for his family and friends, the many kindnesses he did for people that no one knew about, the values that he chose to live by pragmatically and without drama were dependable and constant. 

Underneath a gruff, abrupt and sometimes judgmental exterior remained that idealistic 18 year old boy who never lost his belief that we choose how we live; despite seeing many friends and enemies injured, killed and mentally damaged beyond hope in violent conflict where human lives were sacrificed in a war machine that was caused by hate, inequality and leaders manipulating divisiveness and fear between groups of people ... and for what?? Why did these boys have to fight for freedom?? Because of a power corrupted by greed and fear that used peoples differences to blame, fear, and ridicule another group, to promote a 'superior race'.

Yes I believe in free speech in its essence. But I believe that speech should never belittle, condemn or abuse another individual or group of people. Freedom of Speech is a privilege. It is not a vehicle to condemn other people. Compassion and empathy should be the basis for free speech. Confusion and fear are exaggerated and corrupted when "free speech" is used to separate "us" from "them". Those who fought for our freedom did not fight for one particular religion, culture, race, colour, handicap, gender, sexual preference, language, mental state or other belief that excludes or discriminates against a people. They fought for the right to be free to choose and live without persecution for those choices. 

The fastest way to lose the privilege of freedom of speech is to abuse it. If you are the abuser you may keep it for a while and shut up dissenting voices, but in the end this is what causes divisiveness, power struggles and wars. 

Not one of us has a divine right to be the judge of other people and it takes a vigilance to recognize in ourselves what we condemn and fear in others and be our own healer, hero and leader.

With love and In Remembrance

Jeanne

                

http://yungpueblo.com/ 

YUNG PUEBLO

 

diego perez is the writer behind the pen name yung pueblo. the name yung pueblo means “young people.” it serves to remind him of his ecuadorian roots, his experiences in activism, and that the collective of humanity is in the midst of important growth. his favorite word, liberation, took on a deeper meaning once he started meditating vipassana. through writing and speaking, he aims to support the healing of the individual, realizing that when we release our personal burdens, we contribute to a global peace.

Contact: diego@yungpueblo.com

Instagram: @yung_pueblo