Our Words Have Weight

I was in Miami market with my friends eating during my Nysc days when the message came in. It was my third day in the camp and already, someone already has spilled out what was being discussed about a particular ethnic group in their platoon. It was a kind of discussion that when I heard it, it made me stop eating what ever I was eating at that moment. And one of the guys around the table where I was eating said, won't you leave him alone, we all have freedom of speech. I could remember that that statement didn't sit well with me going with the flow of what was being discussed in that platoon. But I continued eating after....

I totally understand why we all usually say free speech matters. I have read things I disagreed with, and I have also said things people didn't agree with, what what I do not want is for someone to get punished simply because my opinion or what I've said offended them

We as humans should be able and have the liberty to criticise our leaders, make some arguments that are unpopular, share out thoughts, question beliefs, i do that sometimes and be able to say things that not everyone will agree with. The law could become a violent and dangerous tool In the hand of the wrong people if ever offensive statement becomes a crime.

But when it comes to hate speech, that usually troubles me a lot because is is always directed to someone or some groups of people who belong to a certain place or group. Even when no one it hurt physically. But the weight of such words can cause a lot of inner damages we might not tend to see, but felt by the person who that words is directed to. Where I come from, I have seen different things being said about tribes which always makes the room goes silent. The person who said it might say it in form of a joke, but might not sit well with those who the joke is directed to. It can be so rediculous actually.

And due to different things I've seen on that and personal experience, that question is somehow or has somehow become not so easy to answer for me. Should someone be held accountable or prosecuted because the show their hatred openly? I'm in the middle of that because I'm not in agreement that rule should be set to punish people's thoughts. And also on the other hand, I will not pretend that that the way some people says some words are not harmless simply because no one was touched.

So, I feel before any capital or criminal punishment enters into this matter at all, the line needs to be very clear. Because an offensive thoughts is different from when someone plans and intentionally encourages violence. The aftermath of that violence could be very much brutal that speech. And our law should be able to tell the difference between that not just assume that they are the same.

Well, that day in mami market, I finished the food I was eating and left. At the same time, throughout my walk to the hostel, I was just thinking on how easy it is for us to defend freedom of speech like one of the person around my table defended when the words been said is being directed to someone else and not us.

I'm not saying we should not speak out our minds, but it should not to put down the dignity of others because like I said, our words can cause inner damages no one can see.

Thank you for reading.

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