Russia has passed a law, making it a crime to speak out, or report on anything in opposition to Putin waging WAR on Ukraine. If you refer to it as anything other than a "special military operation" you can go to prison in Russia for 20 years. It is a WAR, started by one side, Russia, it is beyond a human tragedy. I guess I will never visit Russia, I just violated their "fake news law."
The USA suffered for four plus years under he who must not be named, screaming that anything he didn't like was fake news. If he had the power, and if not for the Constitution, I am sure he would have passed a law making speaking ill of him and his actions a crime. His rants against a free press, should be seen as an act of war on the freedoms that we hold dear. I don't always agree with the press, but criminalizing the truth, and cutting off outside information in the name of power and control is wrong.
Larry in PEI, posted a couple of weeks ago about the politics in Canada, and how freedom is conditional. His thoughts were much more eloquent than mine, it is worth finding and reading.
The classic American example of a limit on freedom of speech is "you can't shout fire in a crowded theater." Doing so endangers the health and safety of others as the rush for the exits will likely result in injury, not to mention the stress caused by the prank. I laughed at the "Jackass" movies, but the stunts they pulled, often crossed the line from funny to a danger to others. Looking back, encouraging them was a bad idea.
Really the limit on personal freedom is when it presents a danger to others. Getting vaccinated, and wearing a face covering is really as much about protecting others, as it is about protecting myself. I have a professional license in Florida, I have had for 40+ years. A few days ago I received an email from the department of business and professional regulation that I am now prohibited in Florida from requiring face masks in a business in Florida. The CDC article they linked to was from 2020, and looked at research on the protection for the person wearing the mask, not the protection of others. DeSantis thinks we are stupid enough to read one-side, and not realize there is another side. Oh, and then there is Florida's don't say gay in the schools law - that should bring some interesting litigation.
As a civilized society we accept a lot of limitations on our freedoms. I can't drive off in my neighbors car, or hold a party in their living room, because doing so violates their personal property rights. Thou shall not steal, is part of the implicit agreement of people living together in a society, if I respect your rights, and you respect mine, then I don't need to be prepared to shoot to defend myself and my property. In the era of "Values Education" we have focussed too much an abstinence and not enough on limit what you do so you don't hurt others.
Sorry for the rare political rant. There are others that do a better and more consistent job of this than I. Sometimes, things just need to be said.
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