This is Part V in the Shredding the Constitution series.

“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

Those were the prescient words of George Washington — colonist, founder, soldier, president and American. What did Washington know and understand about the nature of man and those who would enter government that so many Americans these days chose to ignore?

 Quintessentially this: The abridgment of Freedom of Speech — in any way — is a red flag that ought to set off Freedom’s Alarm, a literal ringing in our ears. Yet, while abridgements continue to occur, many among us have chosen to not hear or heed.

Here is an incomplete list of examples:

•Players cannot say a prayer on school athletic fields.

•Some schools preclude the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom.

•T-shirts, etc. with selective political statements not permitted on campus.

•Varying speech codes established by colleges, et al.

Historically, Americans have taken for granted the right to speak freely. That’s been both good and bad. Good, in that Freedom of Speech ought to be manifest through unlimited expression. Bad, because logical common-sense limits — self-imposed by individual self-discipline — increasingly have been replaced by bureaucratic contrivance and institutional hubris.

Here is the difficult truth: There can be no exceptions to Freedom of Speech. Once a free people approve exceptions or accept the pernicious encroachments, whether decreed by government and/or any other entities, there is no Freedom of Speech. Yes, the words that leave one’s mouth should not offend but too many ears are too easily irritated or offended by anything anyone else says.

The bottom line, simply put, is individuals are either for freedom of speech or they are not. Those individual Americans, who might choose for whatever the reason, exceptions or limits to the right to Freedom of Speech should realize the inherent implications and not feel slighted when another person decides that view is not acceptable to them and silences you.

John Milton said, “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.” We do not know if George Washington had John Milton in mind when he warned us about the consequences if the freedom of speech is taken away.

Nor, do we know if Salmon Rushdie had the wisdom of both Milton and Washington in mind when, in 1990, he summed up his personal experiences for all freedom-loving individuals: “Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself.”                         

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications. Rich Olivastro@ gmail.com or by phone at 1-877-RichSpeaks.