Freedom of Speech/Press Freedom
The term Freedom of Speech I have never really understood. Now from the average person on the street I meet if a conversion on that topic comes up the typical refrain from them is "to say what I want,""I am free to talk how I feel." I never did any specific reading on the topic but it begs me to ask what are the guidelines/laws that govern this topic, if there are any at all. If I were to enter a crowed place like a cinema and shouted aloud,"fire fire fire,' and there is a stampede and few people died . Am I free in that case to say what I want..Or why are people liable to law suits for slander when they open their mouths, in those cases are they not free to say what they feel want and desire ?
Press Freedom
Next is the press a very unique medium of information flow we use on a daily basis. They also cry for some sort of freedom but at to what cost. This freedom is it built on edifying and ennobling the populace or for ratings and running down the Almighty Dollar. If I were in the media and I didn't take time to understand the society I am reporting too, their culture, background ,history etc I can be a very destructive element within that society capable of causing mayhem and havoc. Or I can be educating the population with proper information or at least where they can access it for them to be making proper decision. In our local background knowing Trinibagonians are generally semi illiterate, suffer from short term memory and are superstitious,throwing out anything that can sensationalize the populace with unnecessary sentiment and anti progressive behavior is that cry for freedom needed? Dragging silly stories during the course of the week and not throwing out facts and statistics highlighting the root causes of the country's reoccurring problems such as crime, health care, education on all levels will this help their cry. Example Ian Allyne is a very good entertainer he has prime time a great following and could jump from politics to law, health care,Police investigations in a flash. Knowing this the media in a subtle way has pushed this comedian to almost places of power before and could do it again depending on the sentiment of the society and how you feed them junk. Now knowing that "Popularity" is the justification for you to hold the seat of power and authority in Trinidad , and not education and testicular fortitude to move forward would this be a media you could trust and give freedom to throw whatever information they have into society..Hitler along with the likes of Osama bin Laden and the modern day ISIS were/is media geniuses ...something to think about
