"Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech."
by:
Benjamin Franklin
(1706-1790) US Founding Father
Source:
writing as Silence Dogood, No. 8, The New England Courant, 9 July 1722
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Under the current D & R Monster...what we have is similar to what was written in George Orwell's 1984.
 -- Charles T. Neighbors, Longmont, Colorado     
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    WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?!
     -- ASHLEY, OHIO     
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    You're a liberal aren't you Ashley? ;-)
    If you're told what to think and what not to think...or just plain starved for information and education you will not enjoy wisdom. If you are not free to voice your opinion...you're not free to do much of anything.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Very accurate in specifics and scope. Freedom is: “The state of being free; liberty; self determination:” (Black’s Law Dictionary 1st Edition);

    Freedom is: “the power or liberty to order one's own actions” (Colins English Dictionary);

    Freedom is: “The ability to act at liberty.” (Webster’s Dictionary)

    “All men by nature are equal in that equal right that every man hath to his natural freedom, without being subjected to the will or authority of any other man; being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.” (John Locke)

    “Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere.” (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

    “Freedom is independence of the compulsory will of another, and in so far as it tends to exist with the freedom of all according to a universal law, it is the one sole original inborn right belonging to every man in virtue of his humanity.” (Immanuel Kant)

    Freedom is an endowed expression from an inherent creation; NOT ! an abstract ethos based / outside-in to-be-controlled anomaly. Franklin here gives an observation of but a few absolutes within the full scope of freedom / liberty / inalienable rights — at nature's law.
     -- Mike,, Norwalk     
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     -- Ronw13, ID      
    Hence the call to censor "misinformation" and "disinformation" by the government and media 'for our own good' no doubt.  But how many 'conspiracy theories' have turned out to be true? 

    It is not nor has it ever been one of the duties of republican government to regulate speech or the press — in fact, it is specifically prohibited from doing so, see the 1st Amendment.

    "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  Wisdom indeed.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    These  acknowledgements of "freedom" yet feels compelled to employ the alias label of Silence Dogood.  
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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