How can we not talk about freedom of expression in a country that preaches freedom? Recently, the First Amendment to the US Constitution—which guarantees freedom of expression, among other things—has come under attack. Constructive debate, whether one agrees with the ideas or not, has its place in society. So too do humor and the expression of opinions, whether they are perceived as radical or not. Everyone has a right to their ideas and beliefs, don’t they?
It seems that the right to free speech in the US has not yet been completely eroded, as the Walt Disney Corporation, owner of ABC, has announced in a statement that « Jimmy Kimmel Live! “ is returning to ABC channels, nearly a week after the show was ”indefinitely suspended » due to host Jimmy Kimmel’s comments on the political exploitation of Charlie Kirk’s death. It should be noted that Disney’s stock value temporarily dropped between $3.8 billion and $4 billion shortly after the show was suspended. This decline was attributed to decreased investor confidence, reluctance by affiliates to air the show, concerns from advertisers, and negative online reactions to announcements about Disney+ and cruise cancellations. “Boycott Disney” was trending heavily online. Fortune reports that users shared screenshots showing the cancellation of their subscriptions to Disney-owned streaming services or their vacations at Disney resorts. Then celebrities, and even actors who had previously worked for Disney, joined the movement.
Freedom of expression is not yet a thing of the past, but it is under threat. In Florida, the LGBTQ communities in Key West and Delray Beach are learning to express themselves in new ways to cope with the Florida Department of Transportation’s new law banning “surface arts” on roads, including rainbow crosswalks, while other cities are resisting. Read about it on page 10.
As for your right to express yourself, it is welcome in our publications. Your comments are always appreciated (info@lesoleildelafloride.com) and we invite you to respond to our survey on page 19, whether or not you are coming to Florida this year. Cliquez ici pour répondre.
