1215 HRS JUNE 20TH 2007

"I disapprove

of what you said,

but I will defend

to the death

your right

to say it"

Voltaire, french philosopher.

All my years as

a rebellious teenager

and an angry young man,

I fought for

freedom of speech.

I believed

freedom of expression

is a

basic human right.

It is still a value

that I cherish.

However,

on a personal level,

I sometimes think

that freedom of expression

should be curbed.

I respect that you should

speak your mind,

but not without reservation.

Ask yourself first,

will what you say,

have a positive impact?

Does it edify

the soul?

Does it stimulate

the intellect?

Does it improve

the congenial environment

between friends?

Just what did you set

yourself out to achieve

when you said

what you just said?

Were you hoping,

for a change

for the better?

Or was it

just a malicious spite

out of underlying hostility.