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A FIGHT, A BEAUTY AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH
A Fight, A Beauty, and Freedom of Speech 
BLOGGER: BEN PIERSON
As the saying goes, “Capitalism is the worst of all possible economic systems, with the exception of all the others”. Sometimes I feel that about the folks within the US as well. Sometimes I lie awake in shame of what our founders might say to us. In a country created for and founded on freedom of speech and freedom of choice, it seems too often these are lost.
I often feel that many people use their freedom of speech as a forum to take away another’s free speech; their freedom of choice to take away another’s freedom to choose.
Kyle Maynard
The above photo is neither a joke nor a prank. Kyle Maynard (right) fought Brian Frye (left), on Saturday, April 11, in an Alabama arena, in a Mixed Martial Arts match (meaning you can kick, punch, use submission holds… almost anything). If you’re never heard of Kyle before, here’s his brief bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Maynard
So Kyle decided he wanted to fight an MMA match. Ignoring his disorder (congenital amputation), this would seem a logical step for someone of his wrestling background, strength and attitude. If you need an additional primer on his attitude, look no further than the company he is president of, noexcuses.com. But given his disorder, of course controversy ensued.
Everyone involved has been intensely criticized. Pre-fight, message boards were 90% filled with posts calling Kyle a “f***ing idiot”. Kyle’s opponent got labeled with greater cruelty. One poster even went so far as to say Brian punching Kyle would be equivalent to a “guy beating a defenseless puppy”. While I think the verbal attacks are pretty ignorant and a bit cruel, hey, fine with me. What I don’t like is when people try to take his choice away.
There were people calling on the State of Alabama to stop the fight. There were people calling on the sport of MMA to intervene. Even worse, the man Kyle convinced to set up this fight, David Oblas, – a friend of Kyle’s for many years – has dealt with criticisms up to and including veiled death threats.
I don’t know Kyle personally. He could be the nicest guy in the world or the meanest. I don’t really care either. But it distresses me to see people trying to deny him the freedom of choice. Who does Kyle hurt by fighting? Certainly not you, anonymous poster from Cleveland. Certainly not me either. You want to drink and then get into a car? Then I’ve got a problem with you because you could kill others. Want to go and wrestle a bear in the wild? Up to you.
Miss California, Carrie Prejean
In response to a question by Judge Perez Hilton, an openly gay gossip blogger, whether she believed in gay marriage, Carrie responded, “We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised.”
Perez Hilton was ‘shocked and appalled,’ calling this the “worst answer in the history of the Miss USA Pageant.” So the best answer would have been for Carrie to lie, apparently. If Carrie lied and responded in support of gay rights the answer would have been the best in history? Of course then the millions who are against gay rights would have panned her answer. To be upfront, I am generally a supporter of gay rights. But this isn’t about gay rights; this is about freedom of speech and of beliefs. “No offense to anyone out there” sounds like Carrie presents her beliefs but respects those who disagree. In an ironic twist, isn’t it Perez who is being intolerant here??
Ultimately, Perez is appalled by the very things she herself seeks – the right to freedoms of speech and freedoms of choice. By criticizing Carrie for her beliefs and statement, what kind of an example of equal rights and tolerance does she set? A hypocritical and self-centered one, that’s what.
Am I wrong? What do you think?
Am I just ranting about minor things or do you agree we have become too intolerant and disrespectful of others’ beliefs and others’ rights?
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Tags: Beauty Queen, Brian Frye, Carrie Prejean, Freedom of Speech, Kyle Maynard, Miss California, MMA
