Publisher David Brown’s column “Students get free speech” (June 30 edition of the Cherokee Scout) caused me to think about difficult conversations I had with local authorities and state representatives some 20 years ago. That makes me a lot older than I like to admit, but at that time the situation created no small amount of frustration for me; therefore, it escalated into a priority, for which I was compelled to exercise my own personal right to free speech.
My objection was our young children, my wife and myself were being subjected to the obscenity of adolescent boys and men wearing their pants down around and below their butts. Upon inquiry of the authorities, as referenced above, I was informed that the offensive state of undress was protected under free speech – the right to express one’s self.
I believed the practice to be offensive, regardless of the reasons offered to justify the behavior, protest r availability, as it was described. I wondered why another’s personal right to express themselves should supercede my rights to not be trampled upon.
At that time, no one could explain to me where the line was drawn when it came to protecting my right to not be subjected to another’s right to express themselves in a manner teetering on the edge of vulgarity.
I believed then, as now, that a functioning moral society develops acceptable norms for the greater good. I also am sensitive to the certain knowledge that societal rules are not applied evenly in all cases, but there are remedies to try and address inconsistencies in applying rules that have developed to maintain some semblance of order.
Those generally accepted rules were being strained in my opinion. In a follow-up question, I wanted to know where the lines were drawn to protect society from what some might consider to be indecent public exposure. I inquired as to who was going to protect all of our rights.
Not all transgressions are the same.
There was a demonstrable difference between “swearing like a sailor” or pick any euphemism you like or driving crosstown for a tasty meal to sit down across the aisle from someone to see their big ass hanging out. The lure of a tasty Italian meal was ruined. With no remedy from the manager, he not wanting to challenge the offensive “pants man’s” “rights,” we exited the restaurant hungry, in search of another restaurant.
At what point does society act to protect itself and individuals from those who would violate acceptable norms thus tearing away the fabric that binds a people together? There is a line at which our personal rights cause injury to another.
Respect, or perhaps do unto others, might act as a guide. It’s a start.
Authored by - Kevin Puskar
The writer is a published author and resident of Cherokee County.