Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or sanction.

(4-22-18) Over the past several months we have seen thoughts of many of the Outlook readers about some submitted links that we have posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages. These submissions have caused many of you to stop visiting those pages and saying some pretty harsh things about the Outlook and the person who submitted the story. Who is wrong and who is right in the thoughts they are expressing…neither side is wrong.

recent comments on a submitted link we posted–

  • Oh good grief, this is just getting annoying now. At first it was a good laugh, but now it’s to the point where I picture whoever typed this wearing a tin foil hat and living in a van by the lake.
  • Un-liking your facebook page, enough is enough!!
  • mercer county outlook is s joke.
  • Who are the clowns in town that are running this circus of a news page??
  • This is absolutely ridiculous! I guess I’ll find my news elsewhere because you obviously don’t print the truth!

Freedom of speech allows both sides to share their thoughts and feelings on any issue that they have thoughts about or want to express favor or disagree with. The one thing we do know, not everyone is going to agree on everything that is posted on this site.

  • gun control
  • Pro-Life, Pro Women
  • Democrat/Republican
  • immigration
  • Browns/Bengals
  • Ohio State/Michigan

The above are just a few of the things that can start some very interesting debates between both sides of the communities we live in.

So what can we do as a person when it comes to considering an opinion that we have strong feelings against?

  • ignore it
  • consider it
  • strike back
  • give your thoughts
  • stop visiting the media who posted it

Those are several of the options we all have available to us, we all have a choice to make at some time. We live in a country where that is allowed, would we want it any different?

The Outlook allows any reader to express their thoughts and opinions on the actual story posting on our Facebook or on our Twitter page. We do not force you to read any story that comes from those sites, you the reader decide which one to read by opening the link to the story.  Anytime you post a like or dislike button on Facebook or comment on a story there is a good chance that the friends who visit your page will also see that link to the story, that’s how Facebook is set-up.

The majority of the Outlook’s content is very community minded, along with the many breaking news stories we post. It’s your choice now.

So what do you think and feel about Freedom of Speech’?

Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall cogently explained in 1972 that:

[A]bove all else, the First Amendment means that government has no power to restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its subject matter, or its content. [Citations.] To permit the continued building of our politics and culture, and to assure self-fulfillment for each individual, our people are guaranteed the right to express any thought, free from government censorship. The essence of this forbidden censorship is content control. Any restriction on expressive activity because of its content would completely undercut the ‘profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.’