What has happened to free speech?

[denise]

What is happening to free speech?  I posted two examples of this in my blog www.myptsmail.com/denise/blog.  It is getting where you can't have an opposing opinion on anything the media deems sacred or you pay for it. 

[lisa]

It is shameful that if you have old fashioned values that you are ostracized in this country.  There was nothing hateful in what Miss California said, she was just expressing her beliefs and values.  Americans have been critical of their Presidents when they disagree with them.  It used to be that you were labeled unpatriotic at different times in history when you did this.  Now we have a black President, and it makes you a racist if you disagree with him.  Is this the change we were promised?

[tony]

Much of this is media driven.  While I don't agree with the views, free speech works both ways.

[helen]

What about the obvious?  Why is there a judge who doesn't like women? 

[carol]

With the media the way it is right now, you don't always get both sides of a story or in some cases any side of a story at all.  As a consequence of this Americans are uninformed on most issues and don't speak out.  When they do speak out they don't have all of the facts on an issue.  If they do have a dissenting opinion and can back it with facts they are ridiculed for their opinions or belief.