Freedom and Speech

    "The times, they are a-changin'." -- Bob Dylan

 

   America was formed from change.

   From its earliest days, when European invaders pushed Native tribes aside and brought their own customs -- including slavery -- to the New World, to the current years, those who suffered from any change accepted the consequences. At least, that's what the winners claimed. Reality, however, said otherwise.

   "Nobody likes a loser," the winners insisted, trying to persuade others to accept the new situation and do what they're told.

   There comes a time, however, when someone who is accustomed to winning -- no matter how it is arranged -- finally is outvoted and has to leave his elevated position.

   So does this loser accept the vote and move on with his life?

   For someone who has spent his life seeking approval and demanding to be liked, this is not acceptable. Therefore, he does not accept the vote, even if it is a strong majority.

   This is the problem that faces America today, and the question becomes, what to do about it.

   Those who did not like the results of the recent presidential vote gathered nearly a year ago to protest the inauguration of the winner. But the opposition candidate could not and does not accept the notion that he is, in fact, a loser.

   The question now is, what to do about it. There is strong evidence that suggests the loser encouraged his believers to overturn what he insists was a "rigged" election and prevent the inauguration of the winner.

   Losers have the right to complain about the results of anything -- in this case, an election -- and this free speech is protected by the Constitution. But when this allegedly free speech causes followers to cause harm to others, the speaker becomes little more than a trouble maker, and there are laws about that.

   It may well be true that few people love a loser, but when a loser gripes so loudly and for so long that it leads to violence, it's time for society to gather its resources and shut him up.