The Right to Opinion

There is often much talk of the right to be treatedin a far-away Universe, I will not insult this man. Nor
equally, despite one's religion or one's ethnicity or one'swould I harass him in any way that would cause
gender. Over the past century, our society has shifteddiscomfort or antagonism. I would only offer my
this debate from such older-discussed traits as skinopinion, as he offered to me. I would not rise in an
color and gender to things such as sexual orientation.uproar to upset his creed. I would raise the lantern of
Though there are still Civil Rights battles going on todayReason, and soundly offer logic in opposition to his
for equal treatment of individuals regardless of ethnicitycreed. There can be nothing so irrational as resorting
or gender, Civil Rights today also encompasses otherto unkindly sentiments to those who hold different
traits of individuals which before were discriminatedopinions, or to denying opportunity to those who with
against without so much as a thought.The reason whydifferent ethics. It is not my right to say that a man
it is irrational to discriminate against someone on theircannot believe one thing or another. Everyone is their
race is because one's race does not (normally)own individual, capable of believing as they wish for
interfere with their line of work. Now, there arethemselves. Anyone who states differently, that claims
definitely circumstances where such preference iswe have no obligation of kindness or sincerity to those
absolutely justified. If a company was advertising andwho believe otherwise, is an obstacle in the race for
their statistics department had told them that fewknowledge, a blockade to the doorway of opportunity,
African humans buy their products, they may decide toa stone on the path for life.When I say that
advertise with more African models. Would it bediscrimination should not occur to man because of his
rational, in any reasonable man's mind, that thebeliefs, I do not mean to govern the lives of those who
company should be forced to hire as many Caucasionmay sometimes judge on beliefs, and I certainly do not
models as African models? I would doubt that withmean to fill their lives with guilt. There is a number of
great sincerity. If, however, an insurance company wasgreat individuals who refuse to have a relationship with
looking for a secretary, then the race of the secretarysomeone outside of their race. And this will not be out
would be completely irrelevant. Being a good secretaryof scorn, or of hate, or of some other unbecoming trait.
is not about one's appearance, but wholly about one'sIt is because of uncomfortability, or even an inability to
intellectual capabilities, perhaps typing skills and diligance.relate to someone. A man cannot be blamed for being
It is not a question of looks, but a question of intellect.uncomfortable around other races any more than a
To say that the modeling company was discriminatingman can be blamed for the race he is. If an individual
by choosing an African human over a Caucasionwith this uncomfortable sentiment concerning members
human is equally true as saying the insuranceof other races were to see a member of another
company was discriminating by choosing a smartrace afflicted with some ailment, and if this
secretary over an unintelligent secretary.The battles"race-phobic" person were to offer aid -- not out of
for Civil Rights of the people, regardless of race,any sort of fear or reward, but out of the sake of
gender, or sexual orientation, will continue on forpure compassion -- can we honestly call this person
perhaps an inestimable number of years. Thefull of hate or anger? To make such a claim would be
advocates of Civil Rights will exist as long as there isto advance ignorance and to put a scar on the face
Reason and active compassion, and the opponents ofof humaneness. Though individuals who feel out of
Civil Rights will exist as long as there is someplace when among other races may stereotypically
ignorance and selective cruelty. A White Supremacisthave one image of being pristine, this stereotype -- like
may say that he will deny himself friendship orevery other -- does not hold true for all of these
comradery with every non-White, based on thatindividuals. In this group of individuals, there are good,
non-Whites are incapable of making good friends. Aswarm-hearted, kind people, and to make an opposition
every good person of non-White ethnicity passes byagainst them is to become an enemy of every
this Supremacist, as every human being possesing theHumanitarian who contends that duty and justice are
traits of kindness and reverance, beauty and vitality,our first priorities.Just as it is an atrosity to try to make
intelligence and understanding, as every good personsomeone act the same to other races when they
with any skin color passes by this supremacist, thethemselves are uncomfortable with other races, it is
man will find himself a little more alone, a little lessalso cruel and inhumane to insult someone for not
knowledgeable, and gravely disadvantaged. So thebeing comfortable with others of different beliefs. A
battle of equal rights will continue, as long as there is aperson may find it displeasurable to be among other
group being persecuted, and as long as there areraces. So a person may find it displeasurable to be
heroes of our species to defend them. Every man oramong believers of Nazism, Fascism, Democracy, the
woman denied an opportunity because of traits whichelectoral process, Socialism, Communism, Pacifism, or
he cannot control is a badge of dishonor upon theany other creed which has been wrought from
ever-weakening chest of humanity, a boulder upon thehumanity. If a man honestly tells me, "I will not be
back of truth, and a slash across the face of beauty.among those people, because the things they say and
As long as there is discrimination in the heart of anythe way they act bothers me," then I can hold no
man, there will always be fallacies in his mind andanimosity whatsoever to him, but if a man tells me, "I
intolerance in his actions.There is one battlefield thatwill not be among those people, because they are
has almost been entirely unsuccesful in the case forinnately cruel, beyond recompense, passed the point of
Civil Rights. This is the battlefield for the Right toworth," then I will only be deep within disappointment.
Opinion. Think not that I am speaking of the right toThere are few creeds that a man can believe that will
belong to any political party, or believe in any religion.put him beyond the point of opportunity. Though a man
These rights, however, are still under siege by thosehas a right to association, to be with those he likes and
without a rational framework of thought -- this right toavoids those he dislikes, I can only hope that the star
political theory is still a source of hate for those whoof fairness will shine, and all of our hearts will be open
do not weild Reason or humaneness, and it willto others. But beyond this matter of association, it is
probably always exist, as long as there is a ruling class.important that a man can receive a job, a place to live,
The Right to Opinion that I speak of is the right toa place to buy food and other necessities, without
believe all that you wish, without being discriminatedharassment for his creeds. Let a man believe as he
against. Though the right to belong to any political partywish, and you can only hope that Reason will govern
or any religion may be counted as part of this, thehis judgment. Harassment will accomplish nothing, but
Right to Opinion still does not prevail. What man canwill work away at the man's tolerance for others. I
openly, publicly, and brazenly say that he finds Nazismcannot govern society or its members, but as far as
to be a sound ideology, and then easily findthe economy goes, no man should be behind bars
employment? Would a black shop owner hire this man,because of their beliefs. This is a testament to
even if the Nazi was willing? If a man were tofreedom as much as it is a confession of humaneness
announce his membership in North-American Man-Boyand a declaration for beauty in tolerance.Though
Love Assocation (NAMBLA, working for the rights ofobservation will allow us to easily see that our society
adults for consensual sexual relationships with minors),is not always accepting of another man's Right to
would announcing one's membership of such anOpinion, a person cannot go far in their intellectual
organization boost their chances of employment orjourney without hearing someone say, "That person
relationships? It is unpopular today to even assert thathas their to their own opinion!" Though this is certainly
Nazism is right, or that Pedophilia may be right. But iftrue, it is unlikely for someone to say this about a man
someone were to cling to such ideologies, based onwho believes Pedophilia is justifiable. It would be of
the juries of their mind, they will be harmed in all ways:most difficulty to hear a man say "You have your right
employment will be difficult, friendships and family mayto your opinion" when another attempts to justify
be curtailed, and other social or economic conditionsPedophilia. It would be gravely difficult to hear the
may worsen, simply by holding an opinion.If ansame when a person makes a heretical remark,
employer refused to hire someone on the grounds thatmocking a god or the unseen spirits of the worlds'
they held a certain opinion, how could they respond?religions. I only feel the need to comment on this, that
There are probably a thousand laws inhibitingthough everyone has their right to their opinion, we
employers from such actions, or completely disallowingalways have the right to comment on their opinion, or
public institutions from denying citizens their right tohold an opinion of an opinion. The point of existence for
equal treatment. But there are amazingly few lawsintellectual debate is not to find some conclusion, or to
upholding a man's right to belief in whatever he wishes.meet some compromise about some philosophical
If a man professed belief in Nazism, the businesstriffle. It is, utmostly, so that we can understand each
across this nation may very well refuse to employ himother and -- with the serene hope that only sleeping
or to serve him. And, if he were to seek aid in his rightchildren can dream of -- that we will clear the way a
to belief, I doubt there would be a single politician wholittle. That will we remove any fog that pollutes our
would stand beside him. The ruling class are notthinking, destroy stereotypes, burn all aspirations that
concerned with justice so much as they areare made from imitation, and bury every vice.
concerned with looking good in the eyes of the public.Intellectual debate is the foundation for anything that
Being associated with a Nazi is not something thatwas individually great and accomplishing.Before closing,
would help reelection of any public official. But do notthere are some facts which ought to be put into light
only think of Nazism as a creed a man may hold thatfor those who still disagree with me. Before anyone
would harm him. If a man were to shout out in public, "Itlights a torch in effort to burn out their enemy for
is okay to have sex with children!" he would besome ideology, first think of Giordano Bruno.
outcast. Employment would be impossible, peopleRemember the monk who travelled throughout
would sneer, and the whole of society would be hisEurope, dodging the hounds of the Vatican as much
enemy, as much as they are enemies to the Right toas he could, only so that he could write out what he
Opinion.Do humans have the Right to Opinion beyondbelieved, only so he could try to prove that
political parties and religious belief? It is undeniable. Socompassion would conquer the world. Remember the
much as a man cannot choose his skin color, in manyphysician Servetes, burned at the stake by a tyrant.
ways a man cannot choose his belief. If we see aRemember his exodus from the church, breathless for
crime being committed, we cannot help but believe thatlife as he searched the land for some refuge, and
it took place. If we are presented with the evidence ofdenied any sentiment of compassion, as John Calvin
a crime, we cannot help but believe that there is a highmercilessly ordered death. Think of Thomas Paine. He
probability that it took place. But these are the thoughtswrote a book, and they unleashed the hounds of
of a rational man. If, being presented with the evidence,iniquity with the orders of destruction and cruelty. He
a man comes to believe that Caucasions are superiorspoke his mind, and they gave him the death sentence.
to Africans, or Africans are superior to Jews, or JewsHe was put behind the bars of a French prison as
are superior to Hispanics, -- if a human being, with hismuch as he was put behind the bars of intellectual
own mind and his own will, gathers evidence forprison. Think of Francisco Ferrer. He taught the children
himself and discovers reasons to believe as he doesof Spain a secular education, gave them the gift of
-- if a man does this, then what do we accomplish byliteracy and thought, instilled in them an insatiasable
punishing him for speaking? Every man certainly mustappetite for knowledge and truth. His only gift to
have the right to judge facts for himself, regardless ofhumanity was teaching and kindness, and his only
what any court in the world says. It is not aboutsacrifice was his own life. Remember all who have
supressing Nazism, Fascism, Sexism, Racism,given their lives only because they believed as they
Capitalism, Speciesism, and every other ill-doctrine bydid, only because they felt that they were compelled
any means possible. It is not about silencing those whotowards truth, and remember the animosity we gave
oppose me ideologically. It is about holding up thetheir offenders -- remember the unbridled scorn and
individual as the supreme leader of society; it is aboutcontempt held for those who executed heretics and
understanding the right of every person to believe asheathens. Before anyone raises their fist in indignance
they wish, allowing the pathway to the temple of anytowards someone with another creed, remember our
theory, opening the door to a kingdom of ideas andheroes, how they were killed for their beliefs, and why
concepts, releasing the chains around the legs ofwe will always cherish their memories in our hearts.
every slave and holding the torch up at night so theyLife,Punkerslut (or Andy Carloff) has been writing
know where to go to get to freedom. The Right toessays and poetry on social issues which have caught
Opinion is the same as the right to belief, and upholdinghis attention for several years. His website provides a
it is the same as the responsibility to decency, and thecomplete list of all of these writings. His life experience
duty to civilization.If a man comes to me and tells meincludes homelessness, squating in New Orleans and
that all other races are inferior, that Free EnterpriseLA, dropping out of high school, getting expelled from
benefits the worker, that animals have no right othercollege for "subversive activities," and a myriad of
than to be eaten, or that real religion consists of a godother revolutionary actions.