In the United States, we are all guaranteed, by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the freedom to say whatever we want, right?
Kind of.
In real life, most of us are protected but we have to be wary of the consequences, and the Supreme Court has ruled several times that speakers should shoulder responsibility for what they say.
I have witnessed the limitations of my free speech numerous times in my lifetime.
When I was in the Air Force, I challenged an officer’s poor assessment of our crew’s performance during postflight debrief. What a stupid thing to do, although in my defense, I was only 21. For exercising my First Amendment right, I received a well-deserved Letter of Reprimand.
Even today, I cannot talk about classified information without possible legal action that I know from my military time, no matter if I think it should be classified or not.
When I was a teacher in the Clark County School District, I had to at least stand and face the flag during the daily Pledge of Allegiance. Although I think that not only should I do that, I should place my right hand over my heart and orally recite the Pledge, I can see that certain religions don’t agree with me. Some teachers belonging to certain religions sued and were fired, despite their right to free speech.
Our school district told us that if we published criticism by name of any district officials, we would be fired. What about our First Amendment right?
Although students and parents could publish criticism of teachers by name, we could not criticize students or parents by name or face termination.
There was a 6th grade girl who yelled, “I Hate Mormons…” during a passing period. Although she had the right to say that in a community that was about ⅔ LDS, she often complained to me after that she hated living in Moapa Valley because she had no friends.
Another 6th grader came to school with his hair spiked so much that it looked like the spokes of a bicycle tire, then complained that other students made fun of him when there were no teachers around to hear.
A teacher at my school criticized our principal at a faulty meeting, and although he was not fired, he was surplused (lost his job at our school, but could go to another school in the CCSD) and had to drive 60 miles each way the next year to his new job in Las Vegas.
A friend in Moapa Valley from Boston told me one week he was, “...standing up to the good ol’ boy network and telling them when to deliver (his) hay” and the next week complained, “I can’t get no ***@@@! hay!”
Can you imagine telling a friend her baby is ugly, your wife she is fat, your son he is a coward, your boss he has yellow teeth, or demanding your landlord lower your rent? Sure, you can say these and many other hurtful things, but you almost certainly will have to deal with the consequences of exercising your First Amendment right.
Aaron Rodgers has the right to say whatever he wants about Dr. Fauci and vaccines, and although he is still playing quarterback in the NFL, I don’t see him in any commercials anymore. Is it Rosie O’Donnell’s choice that she isn’t on TV anymore? Why was Terrell Owens released and, in spite of ranking third all time among NFL receivers in both receptions and touchdowns, isn’t he in the NFL Hall of Fame? Do you think he’ll find a coaching job in the NFL? Why did Colin Kaepernick’s career end so soon?
These are just a few of the many famous people that I believe lost their jobs for exercising their right to free speech and then receiving the consequences.
The truth is, all but a few of us limit what we say because we know there are consequences. The consequences may come in the form of losing a job, losing a friend, receiving a formal reprimand, being deprived of companionship, losing your rental, or receiving a knuckle sandwich but we all know that consequences exist and usually temper remarks we would like to make.
And the true irony is, not many people care what my opinion about almost anything is. So I have lots of mixed feelings about the current uproar about free speech. Kind of like freedom isn’t free.
I would bet several readers who bet based on my predictions would like to inflict consequences upon me, but I will make more now. LInes are from espn.com on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
A couple of notes first. Way to go, Lions! I would like to bet against the Saints again, but they are an NFL team and the point spreads are getting ridiculous. The Steelers are a made 60-yard field goal and 5 Patriot turnovers away from being 0-3. Is Jaxson Dart enough to save a Giant team that seems to have many other issues? Can the 49ers continue winning without Nick Bosa? The only team that seems capable of beating the Eagles seems to be the Eagles. I have never seen the Baltimore Ravens pushed around like the Lions did. Lamar Jackson is not the problem. What’s up with the Houston Texans? I drafted Ashton Jeanty 7th overall and Chase Brown 19th and I’m still 2-1 after 3 weeks. I’ll bet there was no one happier to see so many blocked field goals last week as me. And finally, Say it ain’t so, Detroit Tigers!
Minnesota Vikings (-2 ½) vs Pittsburgh Steelers: In Dublin, Ireland. With Jalen Ramsey on defense and Aaron Rodgers on offense there’s nearly always someone I don’t like on the field for the Steelers. Let me research their kickers a little…
New England Patriots (-5 ½) vs. Carolina Panthers: if New England can only get out of its own way…
Los Angeles Rams (-3 ½) vs Indianapolis Colts: I remember Daniel Jones can’t stand prosperity, and the Rams are a good team at home coming off a very tough loss.
Kansas City Chiefs (+2 ½) vs Baltimore Ravens: Nnamdi Madubuike will be out again, and people I trust who are knowledgeable say that’s why the Lions were able to run the ball like they did. Also, the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes, are good at stopping the Colts, are at home, and are 1-2.
Green Bay Packers (-6 ½) at Dallas Cowboys: Listen, Packers, cover Jake Ferguson and you should be good on defense. Really, who else do the Cowboys have? I hate to give this many points on the road, but I think the Packers are good and had a bad loss last week.
New York Jets (+2 ½) at Miami Dolphins: Which team is less bad?
Last week 3-3
Season 10-8
Robert’s picks
Duke (-4) at Syracuse: I was wrong about Duke two weeks ago when they went to Tulane and lost, but I’m not one to give up on an idea easily. Duke QB Darian Mensah has thrown for 1,305 yards, 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in four games, and I think he’s going to keep that going here. Syracuse meanwhile, is coming off an upset over Clemson, but they lost Notre Dame transfer QB Steve Angeli to a torn Achilles in that game. Backup Rickie Collins came in and completed 3-of-8 passes for 34 yards after Angeli got hurt, and if I’m right that Mensah is going to keep throwing for lots of yards and touchdowns, then Collins is going to have to keep up for Syracuse to have a chance. I’ll tip my hat if he does.
Oregon (+3 ½) at Penn St.: It’s an absolute, crying shame that this game and Alabama-Georgia both start at the same time. I won’t have to choose which one to watch though, because at that time I’ll be in Truckee setting up to broadcast an even bigger game between the Vaqueros and Wolverines. But until Penn St. wins one of these showdown games, I’m going to keep betting against them, especially when they’re favored.
BYU (-6 ½) at Colorado: The one thing Colorado has struggled most with in the last two-plus years under Deion Sanders is teams that are physical at the line of scrimmage. BYU beat Colorado 36-14 in a bowl game last year and rushing yards were 180-2 in favor of BYU. I don’t see what changes here.
Steelers (+2 ½) over Vikings: It may have been almost 2,000 years ago, but the Irish have a long, uncomfortable history with Vikings. Google tells me the Vikings’ initial success was due to their speed and tactics, which parallels Kevin O’Connell’s scheme to get the ball to Justin Jefferson. Google also tells me the Irish ultimately defeated the Vikings in the Battle of Clontarf partly through the use of small spears. In sports we call those “daggers” and nobody in the current NFL has thrown more daggers against the Vikings than Aaron Rodgers. Seeing a team called Vikings favored on a battlefield in Dublin offends all my historical sensibilities.
Rams (-3 ½) over Colts: Maybe Daniel Jones was the missing piece the Colts needed and the Giants were so dysfunctional that it hid his true brilliance. After all, 71.6% completions, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions is brilliant stuff for an NFL quarterback, no matter who it is. If either one of those things is not true, though, this is where it will begin to show. The Rams would have been a touchdown favorite if this game had been Week 1, and the Rams have done nothing to deserve being downgraded. The Colts, meanwhile, will show us whether their perceived upgrades are real or not. My money says they taste defeat here.
Jaguars (+3 ½) over the 49ers: Watching the 49ers is kind of like one of those zombie movies where the zombie just keeps coming despite his arms and legs falling off. They got a profoundly lucky win over the Seahawks, struggled to beat the possibly worst-in-the-league Saints, and then moved to 3-0 because the Cardinals will apparently always be the Cardinals. The Jaguars are no great shakes, but nothing is going to come easy for the 49ers, so I’ll take anything above 3 and figure the game will come down to someone either making or not making a key play in the final minute.
Last week
College 2-1
NFL 2-1
Season
College 5-8
NFL 5-5
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