Free Speech Not Absolute

Absolute free speech? Of course it is not absolute anywhere, in fact it is not feasible.

When political activists from the other side of the political aisle make references in varied forms and forums suggesting the absence of free speech, we do not only find their stance ridiculous but full of derision.

Of course they know there is no absoluteness about this principle and only abuse same to embellish their warped arguments, albeit to no avail.

In the name of free speech, such activists have transcended the boundaries of decency and hurled all manner of invectives and unfounded allegations against respectable ladies and gentlemen of this great country.

Nobody should expect to go scot free when their expressions impugn on the interests of others, indeed exposing their targets to public ridicule all in the name of free speech. To expect such victims not to seek redress in a court of law would be asking lawlessness to become the order of society.

As major contributors to giving politics a bad name, the perpetrators of this bunkum have refused to learn from the uselessness of propaganda in politics.

Persons with impeccable records after serving decades in both public and private lives have not stopped enduring the aspersions of such persons who have shed the last traces of shame from their psyche.

Enter social media and the situation has been aggravated beyond acceptable levels.

If there is one institution which because of the special position it holds in the justice administration chain it should be spared the bad tongue of politicians with sharp and venomous teeth protruding from their mouths, it should be the judiciary. Unfortunately, the sharp-toothed persons continue to show preference for political and social waywardness and outright insolence.

The judiciary, after enduring kidnapping and murder at the hands of a junta which has metamorphosed into a political party, has continued to dish out justice unfazed.

At the least opportunity, a section of the political divide will hurl innuendos at the bench as we have witnessed in recent times.

The vetting of the Chief Justice nominee, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, offered them another opportunity to vent their spleen on an arm of government they love to hate and insult.

The issue of free speech was on their sights and they tackled it in their own way, tendentiously.

Freedom of speech has never been so relished in this country as in the period following the expunging of the Criminal Libel Law from our statute books.

As for the originator of this legal game-changer, we all acknowledge the yeoman efforts of the then Attorney-General and Justice Minister.

We are excited in recalling the thought of eminent English jurist Lord Denning on this subject, which in summary is that while people are free to express themselves, they should be mindful of the fact that in doing so when they cross the red line they would be cited for contempt.

Our country is ruled by law not by the preferences of an individual or a political grouping.

The Chief Justice nominee will be approved, their threats notwithstanding.

Won't they just give us a breathing space? Come on!