Freedom of speech is vital
Whether you agree with him or not, what a strike to freedom it would be if presidential candidate Donald Trump couldn’t say what he says. That’s what elections are for. So, be weary by what’s happening in the United Kingdom, because what is happening there could be coming to America if we are not careful.
In response to Trump’s call for a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the U.S., members of the Parliament are debating whether Trump should be banned from entering the U.K. In other words, they are debating whether Trump should be silenced in the U.K. It is dangerous for the masses (an online petition signed by over half-a-million was submitted calling for Trump’s ban) to silence opposing views. After all, today’s majority view often becomes tomorrow’s minority view. So today’s victors could become tomorrow’s silenced victims.
Protecting unpopular speech is not about Trump, it’s about free speech, and how it can be greatly diminished in America as it already has in nations like the U.K., Denmark, France, the Netherlands, etc.
As for us, let’s learn from Europe’s mistakes, and preserve and extend what makes America great. The late Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said it best in Whitney vs. California, 274 U.S. at 375, 377 (1927): the “fitting remedy for evil counsels is good ones” so therefore when “there be a time to expose through discussion falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the process of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.” Free speech is not for the squeamish, but enforced silence is bad medicine for all.
Daniel A. Alvarez
Somerton
What about white people?
he Northeast Times mentioned how in the April election, the voters of Philadelphia decided to make permanent an outreach to the black community of Philadelphia. In November, Philadelphia voted to have a permanent outreach to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
The Dec. 27 Philadelphia Inquirer article, “New Face for a Philly New Year’s Institution,” mentions whites make up 36 percent of Philadelphia. Is there an outreach to whites since we’re the minority? If not, how come? All Americans are to be equal.
Jason Hencore
Bridesburg
Clarke wrong about police
As a member of the 3rd PDAC, I was disappointed, but not surprised, to see comments that City Council President Darrell Clarke made about the Philadelphia Police Department at the recent swearing-in of city elected officials.
He seemed to imply that Philadelphians live in fear of the police, while also seemingly to paint all of our police officers with the same broad brush. I was equally disappointed, although again not surprised, that Clarke also did not attend any of the pro-police support rallies held throughout the city last year. His absence did not go unnoticed.
I would like to extend an invitation to Council President Clarke to get out of the Academy of Music and City Hall and travel below South Street. That way he could come to South Philadelphia for something other than a ribbon-cutting and see who is really committing the crime in my neighborhood and forcing my law-abiding neighbors to be careful and wary as they go about their daily lives. I can assure Council President Clarke it is not the Philadelphia Police Department committing any of these crimes.
Joe Eastman
3rd Police District Advisory Council
School district needs help
A novel way for the school district to obtain additional funds would be to sell some of those highly paid newly created job titles of the Hite administration to either Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune.
Jeopardy couldn’t use it because nobody would be able to guess what the job title was from any clue.
Wheel of Fortune would need a significantly larger letter board and the show is only a half-hour. Pat Sajak would state the puzzle category would be an “Occupation” or “Person.”
Unfortunately, the school district doesn’t have many occupations or persons that the average contestant could solve like registered nurses, school counselors or substitute teachers.
Mayer Krain
Modena Park
