Walk a Mile in Charlie Manson's Shoes

There may be a human right to free speech but there is no right to be listen to.

Apparently some news agency felt it reasonable to interview Charles Manson, learn his political opinions and publish them. This abuse of the public space can not be dismissed by simply saying "If you don't want to hear what he has to say then don't listen." Interviewing a bedwetting, fire-starting, animal torturing homicidal maniac for his opinion on anything is simply insane. But underlying this abuse is a philosophy: The philosophy of non judgment.

It is everywhere. It allows a school principal to avoid the decision of whether or not to suspend a nine year old with a water pistol, it allows a judge not to judge using mandatory sentencing, it confounds a people trying to assess a threat or a deviation by demanding respect for all cultures regardless of its seriousness or pathology, it prevents a sensible people from dismissing anything. So Manson speaks, genital mutilation has a historical and cultural value, a pyramid of Aztec hearts is an architectural marvel.

One has more and more respect for the plight of the modern artist who has been robbed of art's historical right to teach; when nothing is true, every thing must be taken as it is, isolated, and without context or judgment.