As I sit here processing the news that two of the three
poets accounts that were suspended on Twitter for no apparent reason are now
free, I am humbled by the way the poet community came together to fight for one
of their own.
I wonder sometimes if good really does triumph over evil, as
we have been told. I’m not sure if it does, but one thing I do know is that
right is right, and it is worth fighting for. If we stand back and take a wait-and-see
attitude, then we join the ranks of wrong.
I admit that I am passionate and often jump in without
thinking, but when I see an injustice, I just can’t be quiet. There are just
somethings that I cannot be quiet about. This was one of them.
The issue here is that we have the right of freedom of
expression. It is spelled out clearly in the First Amendment – not the 14th,
not the 27h, but the First! It was the very first amendment to the
Constitution written by the founding fathers, and in my opinion, it is the most
important right of all and leads the way to the remaining 26 rights.
As a Journalism and Political Science student on the cusp of
graduating with double degrees, I have studied the First Amendment extensively.
And it specifically gives the right of Freedom of Expression and is a right
that I will fight for. Yes, even for those with whom I disagree. Because that
is my right too.
When we stand back and allow this right to be violated,
regardless of the circumstances, we let others dictate our voice. What I have
to say may offend someone else, but it is my right to say it. What you say may
offend me, but it is your right to say it.
Where is the line drawn? When speech becomes bullying with
the intent to hurt and harm! That is where the line must be drawn. But the big
question here is one that comes before our Supreme Court often. What was the
intent, and did the speech cause hurt with that intent?
That is another blog of its own, and one I will leave alone
for now. After all, I have a final paper to write today discussing Communism
and China’s government. Go figure, right?
So, what I want to say here is that I am so appreciative of
the poet community on Twitter. When I heard what happened to one poet’s
account, I knew I had to tell the world. I did, and the response was
overwhelming. Poet after poet, and followers-of-poets after followers-of-poets
jumped in and flooded their timelines with the #FreeOurPoetsNow hashtag and
bombarded the Twitter support account asking why poets were suspended but
bullies and those that write harmful messages are allowed free access.
We had a small win today. Two of the three were reinstated –
we are still waiting for the third. Why so much for three accounts? Well, even
one account is too many. If those that use their freedom to bully and cause
harm are allowed to say what they have to say, then those that use their
freedom to write of love, hurt, pain, and emotions have to be allowed the same.
And so, we have won a small battle, but the fight still continues until we know
we are safe to use our freedom of expression right without fear of suspension
or reprisal. And until we know that those that have the intent to cause harm
are held to the same standards, we must continue to question and raise
awareness.
This is our voice, and our voice must be strong! Our voice
must not be silenced – not even for one.
