Free speech, aggravating and humorous!

Histrionics, hyperbole, hysterics, exaggeration, embellishment, and the like are some of the costs of free speech.  Wielded by talk show hosts, employed by politicians, abused by university academics, and cherished by the media, how these forms of communication have expanded most recently.  Aggravating though they may be, even ridiculous at times, we can see in them grand theater and humor.

Those that utter, write, broadcast, or post histrionics, hyperbole, hysterics, exaggeration, embellishment, and the like appear to take themselves too seriously.  Can they really believe what they are saying?  Do they really believe the average citizen fawns over every word, accepting them without question?

One side of an issue utters, writes, broadcasts, or posts, only to be outdone by the other side of the issue.  The war of words escalates.  When broadcast, the escalation can lead to shouting at one another, taking the histrionics, hyperbole, hysterics, exaggeration, embellishment, and the like to exponentially higher levels of inaccuracy.  Shaking my head, I smile at the spectacle.  And I recall what a mentor said years ago, “Saying it loudly doesn’t make it a fact.”

Fortunately, truly fortunately, we have the right to free speech.  While at the highest plane the right is inherent to discussing those matters most critical to a free people, at the lowest plane it enables idiots, near do wells, the uninformed, and politicians to demonstrate their foolishness.  And, as the old saying goes, “Don’t argue with a fool in public, because passersby won’t be able to tell who’s the fool.” 

So let the theater continue.  Bring on the histrionics, hyperbole, hysterics, exaggeration, embellishment, and the like.  Encourage university professors to publish more uninformed pieces about matters in which they have no practical experience.  (By the way, it requires no knowledge to profess, which is why universities have professors rather than teachers.)  Add another dozen rabid talk show commentators to cable and radio.  Ask elected officials to hold another thousand press conferences.  

Why, you may ask?  

While aggravating, the humor can be found.  While frustrating, occasionally something really important is said.  And that is the purpose of free speech.