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Challenge public speakers

Benjamin Franklin once said that freedom speech is the right of anyone to stand in public, open their mouth and prove how stupid they are. Mark Twain, writing as Samuel Clemens, amended Mr. Franklin saying that freedom of speech also means that anyone else has the right to tell that person how truly stupid they are.

Public speakers must be willing to be challenged about their positions. The only constraint is that they must be no violence and no efforts to stop people from speaking out are permitted. The biggest problem with speech seems to be the unwillingness of the media and political leaders to acknowledge those points.

Michael Williams

Spokane



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