Most days I try to play down the fact that our programming may cause offense here and there. Take for example a show that is playing on our channel as I type this article; the host and her guest feel very strongly that the Harry Potter phenomenon is very dangerous, part of the occult, and that children should be kept away from it. I have a ten-year old son who worships Harry Potter. I like Harry Potter too! It appears that we have a pretty big difference of opinion.
A lot of us like to believe that we support the First Amendment of the Constitution. But many of us lose sight of it when we feel threatened or offended by another's free speech.
It is a scary time in the world today. We all can relate to that. Sometimes it does feel less frightening or less complicated when there is one clear message that speaks for everyone. But we only have to remember Germany in the 1940's to understand why diverse speech is necessary for a democracy.
For me one of the most confusing and difficult aspects of the First Amendment is "hate speech." I don't have a clear legal definition of "hate speech" but I know it when I hear it. It's when someone characterizes a race or group of people in a hateful, intolerant or unsympathetic light. Thankfully we do not have much of this type of programming on MTN but when we do we are obligated by law to play it. When viewers call to complain we invite them to come to MTN, make their own program, and exercise their free speech.
The MTN Staff is well versed on the importance of free speech. All of us who answer the phones here must be prepared to defend the First Amendment. I write this because I believe you, the Members of MTN, must also understand and support everyone's right to free speech on the public access channels. When we begin to select who gets to speak and who doesn't, we are in trouble. MTN is for everyone.
-Pam Colby
