Is Freedom of Speech Beneficial?

Speech to correct or warn of problems is OK? Isn't speech to warn someone of a thief's intentions, or discuss means of helping a friend correct their faults acceptable? I heard yes. If yes, I would think that that applies to national affairs. Some governments disagree. Mostly, those are the ones who need it the most. Reply

To Sarah Masha You wrote: Perhaps, the women of that tiime and place were more practiced at making their words count, and within the bounds of halacha, and the men, who by their nature, spoke less, were less practiced at restraining themselves."

How true it is with every restraining activities, man proves otherwise. They are bound to practice and do more the things that are commanded not to do so.

Idleness is a devil's workshop. When a person is busy they have no time to gossip. I watched a program where in Venezuela, although considered a poor country, the wise minds brought about changes through classical music. They taught their children at an early age to learn music and education. These children have absolutely no time to get into trouble and have accomplished through music discipline, dignity, and further education. I hope U.S. children would follow their footsteps. Reply

To Elizabeth Yes we all "know" women do talk more than men, but to what aim? Women talk to make the connections that are so important to us socially. Women talk in order to understand and to be understood, to make their friendships, that is their ties to society firm. Men use other tools to make their bonds of friendhip, that is their ties to society.

But with the gift of using words to tie ourselves to society comes the other side of the sword. We can tear our society apart with our words, with unwarranted gossip. Gossip is the most tempting "information" to repeat. Perhaps, the women of that tiime and place were more practiced at making their words count, and within the bounds of halacha, and the men, who by their nature, spoke less, were less practiced at restraining themselves. Reply

On the lighter side.... There was a question raised in our Torah study on Shabbat, whether more men received Tzarat in the ancient times or the women who were likely to gossip more than men?

I thought that was hilarious when one member said that women gossip more than men and why did men receive it often?
Of course, we saw a reaction from one woman and Rabbi was kind enough to come to the rescue of that woman. LOL.

My understanding is that the women are naturally born talkers and they have a tendency for protecting their men and their affairs by literally exposing the others. It is the man that needs wisdom in conducting that piece of information. Therefore, man is judged harshly than the woman. We can go back to Adam and Eve. Although, Eve was the tempter, Adam was questioned first. Reply

We have other Tzarat's in our lives... I do believe that our speech must edify others and not be used to bring others down. It is fine to condemn one's actions if that endangers others in the real world and bring them to justice openly. We should never cover sins lest they continue to do so, but expose gently so he/she may turn from their evil ways. I consider exposure of one's character is one kind of Tzarat's in our lives.

In dictatorial countries, their illegal activities are hushed up by the harsh punishment. I do believe that freedom of speech is necessary to bring about the balance. In the U.S. the freedom of speech has been tampered by gossips and inneuendos. The proverb warns that when a fool talks too much he will reveal every secret that sometimes is beneficial to one's nation. Reply

Tzarat curse! Yes, Tzarat curse was considered as a punishment for wrong doing and so are other judgments pronounced were immediate with death. In Tzarat condition, man was given the opportunity to be isolated and repent than immediate torture or death.

In the present time, Tzarat may be considered as a deficiency in certain minerals or hygeine. Some people cannot tolerate extreme cold and suffer from skin rashes, etc due to the lack of sun's rays. Others have too much sun and that too can cause harm to the skin.

Today, there is a cure for Tzarat. I guess times have changed. Reply

Aren't the laws of lashon hara limited when harm can be prevented? A person is not allowed to hide behind lashon hara when giving testimony in court. Nor can information that a store or potential employee or business partner is unreliable, if that information would stop harm from occurring.

So do we hear the news events you ciited because people want to spread rumors, or is it so that the only source of pressure many of these regimes respond to can be activated and thereby prevent more harm?

I also question if lashon hara enters into information about a government, or conditions within a country, as opposed to a single human being? It seems like it could be a fine line, if the govenment is run by a single person, or small group. How much should we know about our elected officials? When does the personal become important to the public? And which public? Reply

Speech As I understand it...Tzarat existed only in Eretz Israel and not outside. In-re Lahson Hara...it is my opinion that these ideas was meant to prevent malicious. meaningless talk. If one were to apply it to all speech, no one would say anything. Do you say it is Lashon Hara to Jan Karski who witnessed the horrors of the Shoah and tried to warn others? Do we say this of Pollard? And there is countless other examples of where people had to speak out. What of William Lloyd Garrison or Harriet Beecher Stowe? If noone spoke out, we would not know of Tibet. Authoritarian govt's like to suppress knowledge and speech, so they can keep their people dumb, happy or terrorized and accept their notions of social engineering(not the hacker defintion). Speech like anything else is two edged sword...I think the Chofetz Chaim was trying to get people to think about what to say...and not to keep silent. Lastly the Talmud exhorts us not to stay silent or inactive while someone is hurt. Reply