The American Spectator

The Nation's Pulse

(Page 2 of 2)

p>Fortunately the gray beards on the U.S. Supreme Court are not often swayed by empty emotionalism and are not (at present) keen on making laws. With amazing foresight the Founders placed restrictions on government, not on individuals, when it came to speech. Today's Court also seems to accept the idea that anonymity is, or should be, sacred. In McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Comm. (1995), the court held: br> /p>

[A]n author is generally free to decide whether or not to disclose his or her true identity. The decision in favor of anonymity may be motivated by fear of economic or official retaliation, by concern about social ostracism, or merely by a desire to preserve as much of one's privacy as possible. Whatever the motivation may be, . . . the interest in having anonymous works enter the marketplace of ideas unquestionably outweighs any public interest in requiring disclosure as a condition of entry.

br> No one wants to defend personal attacks, anonymous or otherwise, yet even rough, impolite speech must be protected. Especially rough, impolite speech. Ban every word, phrase or sentiment that gives someone offense and soon we will be discoursing in grunts. "[I]am a maniacal advocate of free speech," said Mencken. "Politeness is the worst curse of the world."

Now that's a lesson they should be teaching in schools.

Christopher Orlet is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator online.

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Foreign Policy, John McCain, Barack Obama, Islam, Books, Constitution, Law, Supreme Court