The US seems to be a free speech heaven, or at least this is what they want us to believe. But, is it really? Well, the US might be advocating for human rights and free speech but how far is it true to the US itself is the real question.
When it comes to other countries, the US is always there to play the judge. In its 2021 Human Rights Report on India, the U.S. State Department has flagged concerns over the muzzling of free speech in India. In its report, it stated that there were “instances in which the government or actors considered close to the government pressed or harassed media outlets critical of the government, including through online trolling.”
The incident in which the Madhya Pradesh Police detained stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui for allegedly “offending religious sensitivities with jokes he planned to perform” was emphasized in the report. It also included information on the government’s directive to Twitter on February 1, 2021, to restrict accounts of reporters covering demonstrations against the three (since repealed) agriculture laws.
Calling on others might be more sensible if the US did not take the same as a prerogative. The US has been advocating for free speech in other countries but is it really looking after its own? Well, in a recent abortion rights case Jill Biden’s support for the court’s final verdict drew flak.
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The General’s case
One amongst the critics was the US army general. He mocked Jill Biden’s support for abortion rights. Guess what happened with the three-star general? Gary Volesky, got suspended from a lucrative consultant’s role after a social media post under his name on Twitter mocked first lady Jill Biden’s support for abortion rights. Now, where is the US ‘freedom of speech rhetoric?’ Anyway, as American as apple pie.
Gary Volesky, a former top military spokesperson who retired as a lieutenant general and was decorated with a silver star for valor while fighting in Iraq. Gary Volesky was earning $92 per hour advising military officials, personnel, and students who were participating in war games and other similar activities only until a Twitter handle under his name replied to the Statement from Biden that condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling on 24 June. Jill Biden was condemning the apex court to reverse its 1973 ruling in Roe v Wade which had established federal abortion rights.
“For nearly 50 years, women have had the right to make our own decisions about our bodies,” the Democratic first lady said about the ruling, which in effect outlawed abortions in more than half the country. “Today, that right was stolen from us.”
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An account under Volesky’s name replied: “Glad to see you finally know what a woman is.”
This led to the prominent military figure’s suspension pending an investigation into whether the tweet in question violated decorum rules for retired officers. Throughout his 36-year military career, Gary Volesky, who also deployed to Afghanistan, served as the army’s public affairs chief.
The US which flagged concerns over other countries’ right to free speech has gone so hypocritical to even realize what it itself is practicing. The US might be a ‘free speech heaven’ as it wants you to believe but the time you criticize the first lady it can become a hypocrisies’ case in point.
