Talking Freely Too Much Part II

 AMERICANS EXERCISE their freedom of speech more than any other constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right, we all might agree. We talk a lot.Most Americans, however, seem not to understand just how limited that right is.The constitution says that congress, which is interpreted to mean the government, cannot limit free speech. Because it says this, Americans tend to run around confused, asserting absolute free speech rights they in fact do not have. How often has some twelve year old hot shot constitutional authority proudly informed that he lives in a free country, and that therefore he can say whatever th heck he wants to, anytime, anywhere, to anyone? Often. Throughout American history children, students, employees and even senior center members have tun up against the limits of free speech in the face of tyrants who were, after all, only exercising legitimate authority.Simply put, parents, teachers, and employers are not congress, and are therefore not constrained by constitutional constraints place on congress. I found this out the hard way. while teaching social studies, I must embarrassingly admit, at a very good high school, and in the middle of a minor disagreement with an administrator, of which I have had more than my fair share, and in the middle of a particularly frustrating day, I reminded the principle of my free speech rights. he told me bluntly that he was aware of no such rights within the friendly confines of his building, emphasis on the word "his".My argument was that since public schools receive federal funding, congress in effect is part of the school system, and therefore my protection against its infringements extend to inside the building. I was wrong about that, and I admit I knew I was wrong even as I spoke, all those years ago. Limited though free speech in America, it might not be limited enough, and much discussion is taking place on whether further limits are desirable. We Americans saturate the internet with a veritable avalanche of lies, misinformation, disinformation, rudeness, and insults.Nearly everyone agrees that it has become a problem, that there is way to much of it. yes, it happens all over the world and all over the internet, but we Americans, as we say, take it to a whole 'nuther level. They don't out up with that kind of crap in Europe, or in most other countries. In Europe, they prohibit much speech, and they unapologetically censor much of the sort of garbage that we Americans permit, under the sacred principle of free, unlimited speech. And yet, your average European considers his or her free speech rights to be perfectly intact, infringed  upon in no meaningful way. Like so many other aspects of culture, we Americans might do well to consider the European style, and to consider becoming more like it. Its worth talking about, freely.