Freedom of Speech and defenders of Amos Yee

Freedom of speech is responsible speech. A civilized society is one that respects racial, cultural and religious differences and sensitivities.

There is nothing civilized in making fun of or mocking another's religion or race, just like you wouldn't think someone who looks over at his neighbour's house and starts shouting profanities at the neighbour's children is civilized. Sure, you'll say he is just exercising freedom of speech. But you would not say his behavior was civilized.

Freedom of speech without responsibility has no value. One who exercises freedom of speech without responsibility is like a noisy gong attracting a lot of attention but producing nothing constructive.

Liberal freedom of speech? It is overvalued and under policed. Someone gets harassed and taunted online and commits suicide, and all they can do is to express horror that such a thing has happened. They can't even protect the weak and the vulnerable with their liberal freedom of speech. So they just wring their hands and cry "the horror, the horror".

Civilized behaviour is the behaviour of an enlightened person. And one who exercises freedom of speech in a responsible way is a mature person because only mature people can exercise self-restrain and self-control.