An unrestricted freedom within our own mind to follow a notion wheresoever it may lead is necessary for all creativity, intuition and analysis. Neither objective reality nor our capacity to grapple with it are in any way restricted by our preferences. The real world is beyond censorship, and censoring our thoughts only cripples our ability to face life.

That is why our Founders prized the freedom of unrestricted speech as indispensable to all other freedoms. Constitutional free speech rights are not needed by those who express popular views. Freedom of speech is precisely for Bigots, Racists, Sexists, Homophobes, Klansmen, Terrorists, Communists, Fascists, Satanists, Atheists, Anarchists, Islamists, Pornographers, and all who advocate views deemed odious by many in the mainstream. Their ability to express, but not act on, “hateful” views without interference is the price we pay for every freedom we enjoy.

Notions of “hate speech” should never be legitimized into custom or law, and those that have crept in since 1990 should be excised. All college speech codes should be abolished. Corporate attempts to restrict political speech should result in boycotts. Most of all, we must avoid self-censorship, where a fear of offending others makes us complicit in muzzling our own sensibilities and amputating our own thoughts.

RALPH K. GINORIO

Coeur d’Alene