Inever thought I would be coming out against free speech and Im not, exactly.<\/p>\n
Its more like an over-abundance of free speech at inappropriate times.<\/p>\n
I am all for free speech. I usually say what I think, sometimes when I shouldnt say anything at all. And I wish more people would say, publicly, what they think.<\/p>\n
Paradoxically, the most difficult thing to get in a newspaper in a small town is honest opinion. People are shy, or more likely overly concerned about what their boss, friends, neighbors or family will think of them for it.<\/p>\n
They may say a lot privately but not in a public, on-the-record setting.<\/p>\n
But lately there has been an exception: governmental meetings.<\/p>\n
People should be able, and encouraged, to make their feelings known to elected officials. But there is a time and a place.<\/p>\n
This past week New Albany aldermen met to reach a final decision on next years budget. The meeting ran nearly three hours and much of what was said was relevant to the unfortunate and uncomfortable situation concerning the civic center.<\/p>\n
But much of what was said had nothing to do directly with the budget and the meeting had the air of a verbal free-for-all.<\/p>\n
The Union County Board of Supervisors allows comments from the public and others present at their meetings, but this never really gets out of hand.<\/p>\n
The New Albany School Board takes a more draconian approach: no one is allowed to speak up during a meeting unless that person is on the agenda and even trustees themselves appear reluctant to raise questions. People have effectively been exiled for flouting the rules.<\/p>\n
As much as I hate to say it, aldermen need to institute a similar rule in order to keep order and deal with business in a business-like way.<\/p>\n
Only those on the agenda should be allowed to speak and they should be given a reasonable time limit that is enforced.<\/p>\n
Board members or the mayor can control follow-up questions or comments, or perhaps there can be a time of informal discussion following the formal meeting.<\/p>\n
But the verbal wild west attitude is getting out of hand.<\/p>\n
The public should be allowed to speak, but they should also show common sense as to when they speak up and whether it is appropriate to the situation.<\/p>\n
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View original post here:<\/p>\n
Can we have too much freedom of speech? - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Inever thought I would be coming out against free speech and Im not, exactly. Its more like an over-abundance of free speech at inappropriate times. I am all for free speech Continue reading