Freedom of Speech - A Civil Right

FIJI'S coup leader Frank Bainimarama believes freedom of speech causes trouble and must be curbed to allow the military government to do its work. Read more here.

These were the most arrogant words that I had ever heard from a 'leader'. As these words were uttered, it can only meant one thing - Mr. Bainimarama is a brainless bloke.

Freedom of speech is one of the most basic attribute that God has given us. As human can choose to ignore and not to acknowledge God, and make slandering expression against God, we should be allowed to freely express our dissatisfaction against mere human like Mr. Bainimarama.

There was something Frank did not really quite got it, that it was really our mind which has spoken with every word coming out from our mouth. For example, what I am writing here may not necessarily comes out from my mouth, but mind you, my mind has spoken and there is no way you can read or change it. You can use your stupid army to suppress the people physically but you can't conquer a strong mind.

I don't deny that freedom of speech have its weaknesses. Every stupid or flammable words come out from our mouth may make someone unhappy. Yeah, someone is unhappy, but so what? There are plenty of people out there who are happy and dancing with what I have uttered. We can't please everyone, can we? If what I have uttered really put your country into a difficult situation, don't you have law and order in your country to keep my mouth shut? If after going through a fair court and ruled that I have flouted the law so severely that I must be put into the jail, therefore just do it, I have no qualms. Because I believe that everyone should take responsibility for their own misbehavior. Just don't let the army to suppress its own people! That is treachery!

Frank, are you sure that you have did the right thing for Fiji? Or are you doing this for yourself? Ok, ok, maybe you would say, as the Chinese goes, "if man is not for himself, he'll stand condemned by heaven and earth." (人不為己, 天誅地滅) Fair enough, almost everyone in this world will think this way, maybe not even one is righteous. I won't judge you. Let God does His job.

But one thing I must tell you Frank, with every coup staged, it will have severe economy impact on Fiji. When the people of Fiji can't live comfortably, don't hope you can. Curbing on freedom of speech won't bring Fiji anywhere, because basically you can't stop how people think. When you are thinking by curbing freedom of speech would lift Fiji out from the current political turmoil, ironically the opposite does. Many countries in the world which uphold the freedom of speech excel much better than Fiji does. Freedom of speech means freedom of mind and can be translated to a lot of goodness for Fiji.