Founder of the Comunicas Foundation and Editor of the Dorchester Post, Juan Perfetti | Photo by Danielle Buote“Liberty is telling people what they do not want to hear.” – George Orwell.
By Juan Perfetti – Editor.
The United States of America is exceptional because of the high value given to freedom of speech. Without this principle – which for some might sound insignificant – we would not have the privilege of the progress we are currently experiencing.
Free speech nourishes our society by the voluntary transmission of ideas, opinions, and expressions from the minds of individuals. Then, using the dialectic process, we synthesize and innovate the best solutions to our problems.
Of course, this process is not easy and could be painful. Freedom of speech may hurt. But the harm of not having free speech is immeasurably worse for all of us, especially for those of us who believe that a better society is possible.
In my personal view, the so-called “Straight Pride” parade held on August 31st, 2019, in Boston, was seemingly more of a political trolling tactic and a show to support President Trump 2020 re-election campaign, than any other thing. Anyhow, I don’t think this was a surprise to anyone in Massachusetts, especially after the “Free Speech” rally fiasco held on August 2017, that ended being Shiva Ayyadurai’s campaign launching for Senate.
What it was surprising to me, though, was to see people falling again into the mainstream media insanity. Not only that, but realizing that a group of people organized and planned to deter the event by force, even engaging with violence. And to add a layer of astonishment, observing Boston elected officials arguing that the march should never happen in the first place, also planning to use their power to stop similar demonstrations in the future (aka, to censor free speech).
According to credible estimations, about 200 people participated at the “Straight Pride” Parade. They passed through the conventional process and were approved by the City, as it was required. If you didn’t like it, that’s OK; probably most people didn’t like it. But come on, they have the right to express themselves, no matter their beliefs or the candidates they support.
If the mainstream media and some cheap politicians didn’t give this foolish event the coverage they did, the story would be very different. Mayor Marty Walsh did the right thing standing to support freedom of speech and the civil rights of the people, even the ones he doesn’t agree.
