What does right to free speech mean? There has been quite a bit of reaction over NPR's firing of Juan Williams. NPR has been criticized by left and right for firing Mr. Williams based on his comment. The outrage is probably based on our notion that one should be free to express one's opinion -- you know, free speech?
Except that right to free speech does not guarantee your job -- employer can fire you for any reason, including saying anything it does not like. Remember the phrase, "dooced"? For blogging your work and being fired when your employer finds out about it? (By the way, this is the woman and her blog that started the phrase.) It happens ALL the time, not just to journalists. Technically, NPR had the right to terminate Mr. Williams.
It's an odd thing to remember but basically, right to free speech means that the government cannot throw you into jail for saying something. It has nothing whatsoever to do with your paycheck. But is it truly free speech if you can lose your livelihood? Losing your paycheck is a significant threat to stifling what you might want to say, isn't it? So maybe it's not unlimited right to free speech... just a qualified right to free speech.
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