J
JAMESBJOHNSON
Guest
Anthony Lewis' latest book is about the tortured history of our First Amendment 'right' to free speech.
Lewis was a New York TIMES columnist from 1969 to 2001, a Supreme Court reporter, and is a Pulitzer Prize writer.
I'm surprised to learn that free speech in America is a recent phenomenon. But Lewis makes it clear that what the Founders had in mind was not what we now have. Their idea of free speech and a free press was no license to speak or publish, linked with no prior restraint to speak or publish, but once you speak or print, look out! Once the horse is out of the barn government and corporations and individuals can come after you. Consequently, jail and fines and civil damages were common until recent times.
Lewis cites many instances where the outcomes of free speech were bizarre: An old woman was deported after expressing her oppositiion to the military draft. A group of Wyoming cowboys went to prison after debating our involvement in World War I. A New York City printer was deported after he printed an ad the mafia objected to. A politician won 500K when he sued a letter writer for making general disparaging remarks about politicians in the paper.
When the government couldnt stop a meeting (because of prior restraint), it went after the printer for publishing ads about the meeting. The speaker didnt go to jail, the people who organized the event didnt go to jail, the printer went to jail.
Lewis also writes about how free speech is abused. Newspapers and magazines are free to dramatize and embellish your life however they please if the event was public.
Lewis was a New York TIMES columnist from 1969 to 2001, a Supreme Court reporter, and is a Pulitzer Prize writer.
I'm surprised to learn that free speech in America is a recent phenomenon. But Lewis makes it clear that what the Founders had in mind was not what we now have. Their idea of free speech and a free press was no license to speak or publish, linked with no prior restraint to speak or publish, but once you speak or print, look out! Once the horse is out of the barn government and corporations and individuals can come after you. Consequently, jail and fines and civil damages were common until recent times.
Lewis cites many instances where the outcomes of free speech were bizarre: An old woman was deported after expressing her oppositiion to the military draft. A group of Wyoming cowboys went to prison after debating our involvement in World War I. A New York City printer was deported after he printed an ad the mafia objected to. A politician won 500K when he sued a letter writer for making general disparaging remarks about politicians in the paper.
When the government couldnt stop a meeting (because of prior restraint), it went after the printer for publishing ads about the meeting. The speaker didnt go to jail, the people who organized the event didnt go to jail, the printer went to jail.
Lewis also writes about how free speech is abused. Newspapers and magazines are free to dramatize and embellish your life however they please if the event was public.
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