Freedom vs human rights .......... Parables 659

December 7, 1999

Disregarding airport signs, Myron joked about carrying an atom bomb in his suitcase. He soon found himself surrounded by airport security who would not listen to his claims about freedom of speech. Joke or not, bomb-talk is off limits in airports. Myron eventually agreed that human rights should have some restrictions. Here, flippancy could alarm or panic other passengers so he promised to refrain from bomb jokes.

Theaters and libraries share similar restrictions. They can toss out or arrest anyone who shouts ‘fire’ in a crowded theater (when there is no fire). This falls under ‘public mischief.’ It is against the law because terrified people can trample one another. People generally frown at loud talk in a library too. For a long time, any violation meant loss of privilege. Today’s library patrons may not respect this rule, but most readers wish they would. The downside is that respecting others’ rights usually means giving up some of our own.

However, those who support freedom of speech never quibble about airport restrictions on bomb-talk, nor do they argue over laws against yelling ‘fire’ in crowded theaters. In these cases, human safety takes precedence over freedom of expression. Isn’t it logical to apply this solution to another library issue: access to pornographic Internet sites?

Some argue free expression. That is, anyone can go online and view any Internet site they wish. Others say that we should allow no one access to this material, especially children. We should eradicate this form of “expression” and if that is impossible, we should protect young people by limiting what they can see or download.

Monitoring the Internet is usually at the discretion of local servers. For instance, many of them refuse to host web pages that physically threaten other people. Yet for the most part, the Net is open to whatever anyone wants to put on it, all in the name of free expression.

Although the Bible does not talk about television, videos, pornography or the Internet (at least in those terms), God has plenty to say about impure hearts and thoughts. He also warns us about what we put into our minds. One psalmist offers this prayer, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”

Apart from guarding our own minds, the Bible tells us to love others. This command does not mean romantic love (eros) but uses a word that means wanting the highest good for others. The implication is that biblical love involves personal sacrifice that someone else might benefit.

When God says we should avoid lust, sexual sin and pornography, He is thinking about our best, but also the good of others. All these illicit activities involve exploitation and no matter how you slice it, exploiting a person is not the same as loving them.

People defend their personal right to express themselves, yet pornography infringes the rights of others too. It harms those who view it yet even if they consent to that harm and it harms those who are unfortunate enough to be the subjects in the pictures. No matter how much a “model” is paid, no amount of money can replace what they have lost. A child is robbed of his or her innocence. Men and women lose both dignity and purity. They are being used. Their bodies are objects to feed lustful thoughts and incite lustful activities. Also, this so-called ‘freedom of expression’ puts people in bondage to these sinful desires.

Physical danger should be no more important than moral or emotional danger. We have strong laws that protect people from hurting others if their “free expression” includes bomb-talk, yelling fire, or spreading slander, libel and defamation of character. Why don’t we have laws that protect us from the forces that can destroy innocence and purity?