2006: Brooke Clubbs
In 2006, Brooke Clubbs offered the following remarks:
The first amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
We’re here today, running and walking in honor of our right to Freedom of Speech, which is guaranteed to us by the U.S. Constitution. I would like to take a moment to ponder the power given by this right and thus, our responsibility to respect this power.
When our forefathers drafted this right, do you think they envisioned the partisan hackery, the shouting matches that we see on one channel after another today? Do you think they imagined that this right would, “HURT America” as comedian John Stewart told the hosts of CNN’s now defunct “CrossFire”?
Do you think they could have imagined that people would misuse this right by thinking they were justified in verbally abusing their children or spouse? Do you think they ever dreamed that this right could protect a group of people who would protest outside an American soldier’s funeral because of a belief that each soldier killed in Iraq is God’s retribution for America tolerating homosexuality?
Maybe they did. Maybe they knew that this right could be abused, but they chose to give it to us anyway. Like Voltaire, they may have known that they would disagree with what some would say, yet they would defend to the death their right to say it. Yet, I also think they would agree with Hubert Humphrey, who stated, “The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously. To be taken seriously depends entirely upon what is being said.”
That is why I charge you today to respect the power you have been given by the First Amendment. Use it to engage in thoughtful discourse. Use it to participate in debate, but remember that, as Aristotle said, “The mark of an educated mind is to entertain an idea without accepting it.” Speak your mind, but respect your opponent’s view.
Use your power of free speech to defend those who most need defending. Help victims of verbal abuse to find their voices and speak out. Let the voices of reason and peace ring out over those preaching violence and hate. As Adalai Stevenson told us, “Every man has a right to be heard, but no man has the right to strangle democracy with a single set of vocal chords.”
Finally, I would like to leave you with a thought by Hansell B. Duckett. He is only recorded in history because the following quote is attributed to him: “What this country needs is more free speech worth listening to."
Respect the power you have been given. Use it. And make it worth listening to.
Thank you.