FREEDOM OF SPEECH
by Antonio C.
Antonio
August 16, 2014
My friend, Ms.
Esther Smith, suggested that I posted an article on one of the basic freedoms
that is guaranteed to us as citizens of a democratic country. Esther would like an article be posted on
“Freedom of Speech” so we all can come up with an intelligent discussion of
this matter. In response to her request,
I am re-posting part of an article I posted earlier this year which dealt on
this subject. (Reference: “Critical Thinking: Tatak UP” http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/) Last March
5, 2014, my daughter, Prof./Atty. Regatta Marie A. Antonio of the University of
the Philippines in Manila posted this on her Facebook wall. (Yga is a product of UP Manila, got her law
degree at San Beda College and took her bar review at the Ateneo Law School. Para hindi naman mag-selos yung ibang anak
ko, I hasten to add that my other 3 daughters [Wani, Ping and Neki] are also
products of UP while my youngest child [my only son, Monty] is currently taking
architecture at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.)
Here is Yga’s post:
“I've never attended rallies as a student, and now, as a professor, I've never encouraged my students to join rallies. But I have tremendous respect for those who march, or form pickets and fight for what they believe in.
It is a Constitutionally-protected freedom to express ourselves, to voice out our opinions, and to be heard when we have something to say. It is important to know our rights, and to fight for them, even to the death. It is, however, equally important to know the limits of our rights. Our rights end where the rights of others begin. While it is true that we have a right to be heard, we cannot compel people to follow what we order them to do, because it is their right not to. When others are also in the exercise of their rights, we cannot, and should not resort to violent means to achieve what we want.
UP has always been known to be a breeding ground for activists who say what needs to be said, and to take action against injustice and oppressive means. Through Honor and Excellence. Never through violence. That is not what we are made of. That is NOT UP.
We do not intimidate through sheer number. When we gather together for a cause, our cause is what unites us; Our cause is what makes us strong. Our conviction makes us powerful.
Our "Tatak UP" is not seen in the clothes we wear. It is neither demonstrated in how loud we can shout or how hard we can push or shove people, nor in the number of chairs, tables or doors we destroy when we exercise our rights. Our "Tatak UP" is in the way we think. It is in the way we analyze issues with critical thinking and openness; in the way we view the world from a different, wider perspective. That is UP. That is what we are, or at least, what we strive to be.”
“I've never attended rallies as a student, and now, as a professor, I've never encouraged my students to join rallies. But I have tremendous respect for those who march, or form pickets and fight for what they believe in.
It is a Constitutionally-protected freedom to express ourselves, to voice out our opinions, and to be heard when we have something to say. It is important to know our rights, and to fight for them, even to the death. It is, however, equally important to know the limits of our rights. Our rights end where the rights of others begin. While it is true that we have a right to be heard, we cannot compel people to follow what we order them to do, because it is their right not to. When others are also in the exercise of their rights, we cannot, and should not resort to violent means to achieve what we want.
UP has always been known to be a breeding ground for activists who say what needs to be said, and to take action against injustice and oppressive means. Through Honor and Excellence. Never through violence. That is not what we are made of. That is NOT UP.
We do not intimidate through sheer number. When we gather together for a cause, our cause is what unites us; Our cause is what makes us strong. Our conviction makes us powerful.
Our "Tatak UP" is not seen in the clothes we wear. It is neither demonstrated in how loud we can shout or how hard we can push or shove people, nor in the number of chairs, tables or doors we destroy when we exercise our rights. Our "Tatak UP" is in the way we think. It is in the way we analyze issues with critical thinking and openness; in the way we view the world from a different, wider perspective. That is UP. That is what we are, or at least, what we strive to be.”
This was a beautifully written piece
by Yga. What do you think, my
friends? What can we all say about
freedoms enshrined in our Constitution… to include freedom of assembly and
freedom of speech?
Just my little thoughts…
(Please visit, like and share Pro
EARTH Crusaders and Landscape Ecology UPOU on Facebook or follow me at http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/)
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