Column

Makin' the big spiel for keepin' free speech real

By Jeff Webb, Editor of Editorials
Published February 11, 2008

A story last week drew a strong reaction from readers who either applauded or were appalled by the arrest of 19-year-old Christopher Holder of Brooksville.

After a neighbor, Amy Churchill, complained to a Hernando County Sheriff's deputy about Holder hollering profane rap lyrics within earshot of her and her children, Holder was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and breach of the peace. He was taken to jail, pleaded guilty the next morning and was sentenced to six months' probation.

With apologies to rap enthusiasts everywhere, here's my take on the incident and the ensuing controversy:

Listen up, I got something to say.

Won't take long, 'cause that's my way.

I've been ponderin' my roots,

in this free speech dispute.

I'm lookin' for answers to a thinkin' man's question,

but I'm findin' it hard to be digestin.'

To wit: Should everybody be allowed to say,

anything they want, even dirty-wordplay?

A gal named Amy made her point last week.

She took a grand stand, and was not a bit meek.

She called the law on a punk named Chris,

whose boorish behavior she could not dismiss.

Now this young fella has a record of arrest.

Theft and assault, he's a veritable pest!

This time he was rappin' to an X-rated refrain,

and Ms. Amy did not dig the immoral vein.

Her kids were close, and she didn't want to hear

words so ugly, so doggone severe.

They were obscene, the kind you don't say

around your folks, and never on a Sunday.

One started with an M, the other an F.

Their utterance might make you wish you were temporarily deaf.

Disorderly conduct and breach of the peace,

those were the charges of which we speak.

After a night in jail, Holder pleaded guilty.

He got probation, took a walk. All done - and very neatly!

Some say, "No harm, no foul. He got what he deserved."

But that outlook leaves me a little unnerved.

Not because I'm down with what lil' Chris sang.

I agree it was trashy, and meant to cause pangs.

Did he have the right to rap uncouth?

Of course he did, and that's the truth.

But did he abuse that inalienable right?

Heck yeah, he did - no ifs, ands or mights.

Should he have been cuffed and hauled off to the pokey?

No way, man. That's harsh for just acting dopey.

'Cause once the guv'mint starts regulating which words are legit,

who knows who will take the next hit?

Big words, bad words, words that cause tension,

they are all protected in our U.S. Constitution

You can't yell "Fire!" or "Let's go kill 'em."

But beyond those limits, nothin's forbidden.

So, to this debate, you are invited to join,

because it's easy to see both sides of the coin.

To those who defend absolute free speech,

I theoretically ask - no, make that beseech-

Can I stand on your sidewalk and yell each day

"Hey, "M-----F-----, come out and play?"

Apologies for using that crude phrase,

But that is exactly the point I raise.

Should I be able to curse with abandon,

outside your house, or as our plane is landin'?

I think not, but the law's the law

and until it's changed, it's pointless to jaw

about the words we all find offensive,

and even those that are positively pensive.

These battles of wills are fought every day,

in neighborhoods and at schools, far and away.

So, heap praise on the mom, who drew a line in the sand.

Her neighbors should be grateful, give her a hand.

But it would have been better to let him recite verse that is tasteless,

than to contrive charges that were legally baseless.

'Cause censoring free speech is a slippery slope.

Next thing you know, you run out of rope.

Can't pull yourself back to the moral high ground.

You're stuck in the muck, no words to be found.

Now that's my rap, so I'll shut my trap.

And mercifully save my rhymes for a very long time.

Reach Jeff Webb at webb@sptimes.com or 352 754-6123.

[Last modified February 10, 2008, 21:39:45]