The Madness of Untamed Free Speech ...

Something is happening in America. And it's not pretty.

For the past few weeks, our elected representatives and Senators have been berated and yelled at by citizens who do not think before they speak. And yesterday, it boiled over, right here in the midstate.

Sen. Arlen Specter was at a town-hall meeting at the HACC Lebanon Campus. Only 250 to 300 people were allowed to be inside the auditorium, and reports are that close to 3,000 people were outside the campus. Most were holding signs and yelling at each other.

As the meeting/town hall session started, someone (who I believe must have had bad Lebanon Bologna the night before) threatened our Senator. He said, "One day, God is going to stand before you and he is going to judge you and the rest of your damn cronies up on the Hill. And then you'll get your just dessert." Now, I don't know about you, but that sounds like a direct threat against our Senator.

Personally, I don't agree with Sen. Arlen Specter on everything. Even though his voting record don't show it, I don't think he should have changed parties. But he did. That was his decision. But for a far-from-average, upset citizen to say something like that on LIVE TV that was shown on CNN and his face posted on the NY TIMES front page this morning, he really must be ashamed of himself.

Another prime example of speaking before you think is the former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She tried to scare people in thinking that older Americans will have to go in front of 'Obama's Death Council' in deciding whether you should live or not. Perhaps she should have thought of her words before saying it. St. Petersburg Times 'PolitiFact' did research on this and gave her a 'Pants on Fire' rating. Reports state that now she is asking people who disagree with Health Care Reform to calm down. Let's see if she takes her own advice.

As an American, I am entitled to free speech. That man from Lebanon is entitled to his, and Sarah Palin to her's. But let's be civil. I know health-care reform is a VERY touchy subject. The bill itself is over 1,000 pages and is very confusing to understand. But when it comes to speaking, and public speaking especially, it is vital to be nice, thoughtful, and respectful. It is time to do that. I am sick of people making idiots of themselves.

As your mother said, "if you don't have anything nice to say ... don't say anything at all."

-- Matt