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Freedom Of Speech.
Expression. Tupac Shakur.

Fuck the EFF. The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) is a leading civil liberties group defending rights in the digital world. The EFF and Corynne McSherry "defend rights in the digital world." Maybe they can help the next generation of free thinking minds? That would be nice. What do we need the EFF for anyways? We always have the right to Anonymous Speech and Anonymous Email without the EFF.

The EFF is similar to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). The ACLU deals with Internet cases occasionally, but it does not specialize in the electronic world as the EFF does. Fuck the ACLU, too. Fuck the FBI, CIA, DEA, EFF, Fuck The World and Outback "FREE" Steak House else that doesn't want to hear what freedom of speech is about.

There's one thing you can't make someone do in America... make them shut the fuck up. There is no greater freedom in the United States of America than freedom of speech and the ability to express one's feelings, emotions, beliefs, and thoughts. However, there are many many corporations and people that believe people should not have the right to speak their mind. Two of the greatest examples of people who pushed the boundaries of free speech were Tupac Shakur and Ice-T.

In 1992, one of the most highly publicized and controversial cases of free speech, came with Ice-T's release of his album, Body Count, featured the song "Cop Killer." The song provoked controversy and negative reactions from politicians including George H. W. Bush, Dan Quayle and Tipper Gore. The backlash was likely furthered by another song on the album, "Ya Shoulda Killed Me Last Year." The song featured the lyrics, "Fuck the police, Fuck the FBI, Fuck the DEA, Fuck the CIA, Fuck Tipper Gore, Bush and his cripple bitch this is Ice-T I'm out of here, told ya you shoulda killed me last year."

Many defended the song on the basis of Ice-T's First Amendment rights. When he felt the controversy was overshadowing the band's musical merit, he chose to recall the album and re-release it without "Cop Killer." It should be noted that other previous songs with similar lyrics were never under such scrutiny. Bob Marley's song, "I Shot The Sheriff" never raised any public outrage, and Eric Clapton's remake, reached the top of the music charts. Nor did Pretty Boy Floyd's lyrics, "Policeman come and I didn't want to go this morning, so I shot him in the head with my .44."

Then, in 1995, Tupac Shakur (a.k.a. 2pac), was sued by the estate of a slain Texas State Trooper. It was alleged that his music and lyrics in "Soulja's Story" caused a person to kill the cop. When Tupac was asked in his deposition, "Were you trying to provoke anybody to do anything in particular?" His answer was, "Yes." When asked what he was trying to get people to do he responded, "Think." Two years later, a federal court ruled in Tupac's favor, citing his constitutional right to freedom of speech. Tupac had already been shot and killed by that time and never got a chance to hear the ruling. The movie Tupac and Biggie details Tupac Shakur's and Biggie Smalls murder. The only conclusion is that Suge Knight killed 2pac over nearly 10 million dollars that he owed him. You can watch the entire movie through that link for FREE. It is rated 5 stars and I could hardly disagree.

Tupac and Ice-T's music revolutionized the meaning of free speech. They were pioneers of the rap music industry. Ice-T gave up because of all the legal and financial pressure he was feeling, understandably. But in this country, a person should not experience such pressure for merely expressing his thought, feelings, emotions, and beliefs.

More recently, in 2007, Sean Kingston's song "Beautiful Girls," received quite a bit of backlash.

The lyrics, "You're way too beautiful girl, That's why it'll never work, You'll have me suicidal, suicidal, When you say it's over. Damn all these beautiful girls, They only wanna do your dirt, They'll have you suicidal, suicidal, When they say it's over." This time, Sean Kingston, succumbed to pressure and modified the word from suicidal to "in denial".

The pressure for an artist like 2pac (Tupac Shakur) to change his music or lyrics is ridiculous. It is music. It is freedom of expression. An artist should not have to change his message because certain people do not approve. Let me add a truthful disclaimer. The police are UNDERPAID, OVERWORKED, and society has made their jobs and reputations difficult. Cops shooting innocent people, I never recommend killing a cop or any other human being. The point of the song was that

ICE-T BODY COUNT COP KILLER LYRICS
(PARENTAL ADVISORY: EXPLICIT LYRICS AHEAD)

COP KILLER! YEAH!
I got my black shirt on.
I got my black gloves on.
I got my ski mask on.
This shit's been too long.
I got my twelve gauge sawed off.
I got my headlights turned off.
I'm 'bout to bust some shots off.
I'm 'bout to dust some cops off.
I'm a COP KILLER, better you than me.
COP KILLER, fuck police brutality!
COP KILLER, I know your family's grieving,
(FUCK 'EM!) COP KILLER, but tonight we get even, ha ha.
I got my brain on hype.
Tonight'll be your night.
I got this long-assed knife.
and your neck looks just right.
My adrenaline's pumpin'.
I got my stereo bumpin'.
I'm 'bout to kill me somethin'.
A pig stopped me for nuthin'!
COP KILLER, better you than me.
COP KILLER, fuck police brutality!
COP KILLER, I know your momma's grieving,
(FUCK HER!) COP KILLER, but tonight we get even, yeah!
DIE, DIE, DIE PIG, DIE!
FUCK THE POLICE! (8 times) Yeah!
COP KILLER, better you than me.
I'm a COP KILLER, fuck police brutality!
COP KILLER, I know your family's grieving,
(FUCK 'EM!) COP KILLER, but tonight we get even, ha ha ha ha, yeah!
FUCK THE POLICE! (8 times) Break it down.
FUCK THE POLICE, yeah!
FUCK THE POLICE, for Darryl Gates.
FUCK THE POLICE, for Rodney King.
FUCK THE POLICE, for my dead homies.
FUCK THE POLICE, for your freedom.
FUCK THE POLICE, don't be a pussy.
FUCK THE POLICE, have some muthafuckin' courage.
FUCK THE POLICE, sing along.
COP KILLER! (5 Times)
COP KILLER! What you wanna be when you grow up?
COP KILLER! Good choice.
COP KILLER! I'm a muthafuckin' COP KILLER!
COP KILLER, better you than me.
COP KILLER, fuck police brutality!
COP KILLER, I know your momma's grieving,
(FUCK HER!) COP KILLER, but tonight we get even!

You might be wondering, "How is any of this relevant to marketing and advertising?" Well, there have been just as many websites that have pushed the boundaries of free speech. At the time of Ice-T and Tupac, the music industry did not have much of a presence online. Now the most likely place to find anything is the Internet. The Internet has also revolutionized the ability to advertise your message.

Our marketing firm is a firm believer in full freedom of speech. The ability to criticize a business or corporation or even the government is a right granted to us under the Constitution. Should I ever talk to the police or answer their questions? There is a time to run your mouth and a time to shut your mouth. Not to be able to exercise either right is a travesty of justice.

A person should be able to convey his message online through a blog, website, or message board without fear of having to change his message, opinion, or statement, so long as it falls within the realm of free speech. A person should not have to alter his message merely because a select group of people do not like what that person's opinion is.

Now, if only Grand Theft Auto's creators only had some balls and decided to include the "Cop Killer" song onto their video games. Can you imagine the backlash that would have resulted? Grand Theft Auto is made by Rockstar Games. They are on the fourth game in the series. You have to enter your date of birth just to get to the Grand Theft Auto section on their website. Grand Theft Auto faced backlash upon it's initial original release. The game has only become more violent and realistic since. Once again, freedom of speech and expression, is the most powerful Constitutional right.

South Park and their founders ended up heeding warning to the comments made about their potential assassination. South Park's episode featuring the Prophet Mohammed, proved free speech could still end up with you dead. People don't like to hear about criticism. The FBI however has issued an arrest warrant stating that the extremist statements were actual threats and crossed the line on free speech. The line isn't worth crossing, you don't wish people dead.