The noise
around
silencing speech
may reach
a tipping
point.
The joint
astonishment
and grief
may be
brief
as the next
one to fall
will call
our attention.
While there’s
no comparison
between the firing
of a comedian,
or two,
and the firing
of a gun,
we can’t run
from this
crisis.
Opinion
has been
the dominion
of the comedian,
even mocking
the politician.
It’s free speech
in action
and a cultural
tradition.
But the addition
of retribution
to our polity-
once
the contribution
only
of the most
violently
disturbed-
comes from
the top guy,
perpetually
perturbed.
The Federal
Communications
Commision
is now
on a mission
to stifle.
Instead of
a rifle,
or other
violence,
the way
to silence
criticisms
is to fire
the guys
whose
wittisms
are bothersome
to some;
or maybe
just
to one.
Carr’s action-
Kimmel’s subtraction-
in reaction
to the comic’s
wit,
is every bit
a lack of
grit
and merely
a fit
of alarm
of the president
who sees
speech
as harm
and uses
it
to harm others.
Is this retribution
or fear?
Who can hear
over the alarm
over the act
of commission?
lou sight 