Words Matter
Free speech versus "right speech" and our struggles with civility
On October 3rd, Canada welcomed a new speaker to the House of Commons. Greg Fergus ran for the position on a promise to bring back civility and respect to Parliament. On his first day in office, the toxicity and poor behavior that makes most of us feel disgusted was on full display. How we got here is beyond my ken, but I think it’s a really important topic for all of us to consider, particularly when we want to encourage change and cooperation.
As the world has taken a sharp tilt towards misinformation, sensationalism, and reacting instead of thinking, the favorite defense of bullies (and, on occasion, bald-faced liars) is their “right to free speech.” And free speech is indeed a foundation to a functioning democracy: people need to be able to express views that are unpopular, controversial or contrarian without fear of government retaliation. The right to free speech is necessary for open dialogue, freedom of the press and the ability to criticize (and hopefully correct) bad decisions made by authorities.
But I grew up in a world with higher aspirations, and have spent a lot of time trying to learn and practice the principles of “right speech.” Right speech is a Buddhist concept that primarily focuses on the ethics and wholesomeness of communication. Right speech looks at the intentions behind communication, how things are communicated, when they’re communicated and so on. In right speech, our motivations matter.
The first principle of right speech is that before speaking you need to ask yourself if what you’re about to say is true. I think if we could even incorporate this much into our politics we’d be miles ahead of where we are now. Questions to ask yourself include, “is there any hard evidence to support what I’m saying? Am I making inferences or using bad logic? Am I laying blame where it doesn’t belong?”
Assuming what you’re going to communicate is true, the next question you ask is whether it’s useful or beneficial. Can I communicate what I need in a way that is respectful and kind? Am I over-simplifying, or being dismissive, or basing my assertions on innuendo, or gossip, or prejudice? Am I making it personal when it’s not? Am I coming from a place of anger or disrespect? Can I hold off until I can say what I need to say without intentionally hurting others? Am I trying to contribute to a solution or just sowing discord for its own sake? Am I acting from fear or love/concern? Am I being harsh? Is what I’m saying frivolous? (The political act of repeating “talking points” ad infinitum while refusing to engage in real dialogue seems to be a toxic cocktail of disrespect and frivolousness which, in my mind, serves only to drive ordinary citizens to want to stick pins in our eyes).
A final question is about the timing of our communication. Sometimes something is both true, and useful, but it’s just not the right time to tackle it. Sometimes, it might be better not to speak, or to wait for people to calm down, or to see how a situation shakes out first before jumping in to comment on it.
In summary, free speech refers to the right of individuals to express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions without government censorship or interference as long as it is not hateful or for the purpose of inciting violent behavior. Right speech is an ethical framework which aims to foster harmonious relationships, respect, and less suffering in the world.
And in case you’re wondering, the reason I need to focus on right speech so much is because I really suck at it. And the only way anyone can really work on it, is by working on it with others—in relationship. We learn by making mistakes, course corrections, and gradually changing our habits.
It’s easy to forget how powerful words are, both for helping and encouraging one another, and for causing pain, strife, and even violence.
Life experience has taught me that although saying whatever I feel whenever I feel like it might be satisfying, the consequences and damage it causes are not worth the temporary adrenaline high. I’m improving slowly, but I still have a long way to go. And I’m behind Greg Fergus one hundred percent. I hope he succeeds.
Weekly News Digest - “The Blowhole”
It’s short notice, but this Saturday, October 28th the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment is holding The Climate Emergency Conference: Building A Healthy Planetary Future. This day-long virtual conference is about the intersection of health and the climate and is open to physicians, health professionals, and anyone else interested in planetary health.
Some good news on the renewable energy front: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2023/10/the-world-has-already-crossed-a-solar-tipping-point/
And in case you’re having trouble keeping up with all the latest on the Greenbelt front, this article does a great job explaining it. https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-reversal-bill/. Also, the public consultation process on the Greenbelt is still open. You can submit your comments about making the Greenbelt stronger (no highways, aggregate extraction) and bigger here until November 30.
Our sold-out “Gather for the Greenbelt” event is happening this Saturday. If you were unable to get tickets or to make the event you can still help by making a donation. And if you’re a Margaret Atwood fan, she looks to be doing great after her pacemaker surgery. She has offered to provide signed books to donors who commit $1000.00 to the fundraiser. She’d be the first to tell you, this offer may only be available for a limited time.
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Like what we talk about and want to engage with our coalition more? Check us out on social media or drop us a line if you’d like to volunteer: info@simcoecountygreenbelt.ca
