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Free to be Responsible

Freedom
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Actions
Freedom of Choice
Free! Free! Free!

So what is freedom? 
Does freedom mean that I can do whatever I want?  Most of the time, yes.  Most of the time we can choose to do what we want, what we believe in, what we want to try and experiment with.  But any action we choose WILL have some effect on those around me (I can't come up with an example of any action that does not affect others in the long run, even something as personal as whether you take a bath or not does affect others... unless you keep your stinking self away from everyone.  ;-)

Unfortunately, there are more people in the world who demand freedom without understanding that it is NOT FREE, it comes with strings attached, at least for people who have a conscience.  It is not possible to have complete freedom without responsibility for our words and actions.  
Simple example: would you give your 5yr old child your car and let him drive you across the country?  Why not?  

Why should my freedom become a problem for you?
What kind of freedom is it if it comes with strings? 
What do you mean by limits and responsibility?  
What about MY rights?

One of the prerequisites for freedom is basic common sense or intelligence... ie: the ability to make right choices, to discern the inherent dangers and pitfalls that come with each choice, and the courage/honesty to handle the consequences that come with whatever choice one makes.  

Sûrah al-An'am: 6.108:
"Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides God, lest they out of spite revile God in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did."

So this brilliant cartoonist makes these cartoons that he knows will be offensive... and the brilliant editor of the newspaper chooses to publish them, knowing full well that it would insult and inflame the Muslims... and they go ahead and do it anyway... because, who cares, who gives a damn for anyone anyway... after all 'we in the civilized world' believe in freedom of speech!  Those towel/diaper/turban wearing Muslims deserve it,  they are our enemies, and they are killing us... we have to defend ourselves! 

As the world's leading Christian publisher, Zondervan recognizes that the right to free speech is one of the most important and fundamental rights of liberty. We support the right to free speech in all its forms. We also call for responsibility in exercising this right.

Good citizens know they're accountable for their actions (someone has said, “My right to swing my arm ends when my fist hits your nose”). There are those, however, who tend to forget that they also are held accountable for their words. That's how laws against libel and slander are sustained. Just as in life rules, limitations, and boundaries guard against physical anarchy (e.g., traffic laws, social graces), so too limitations exist to guard against verbal incivility.

Words have a power all their own. At Zondervan we're in the business of publishing life-changing words. Author Tim Stafford, in his book That's Not What I Meant!, says, “Words can hurt. Words can heal. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that we pay attention to our words.”

The advent of the Internet has seen a staggering growth in the potential for the freedom of speech and expression to people throughout the world. Sadly, in some quarters, this same freedom is being abused and used irresponsibly as a smoke screen to communicate in a vulgar, profane, violent, and insulting manner.

Dr. Alan Keyes, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, says in his book, Our Character, Our Future, “Freedom requires that at the end of the day, we accept the constraint that is required....”

If you agree that the true right of free speech is accurately carried out when self-restraint is responsibly exercised, please display the Green Ribbon for Responsibility in Free Speech on your web site. Thank you.