Welcome to the Club

In the short time since the 6 to 3 Supreme Court decision that public figures suing for libel can inquire into the thoughts of media people, many voices have been raised against the Court. “The unmaking of the Constitution,” one commentator called it. “Courts are mugging the press,” a headline ran. “Both publishers and editors believe,” an editor wrote, “that the portion of the First Amendment that protects America’s free press is slowly being eroded by an increasingly anti-press legal and judicial establishment.” Another wept: “Rescue the First Amendment!”

Media people are fearful now of what they call the “chilling effect” of the latest Supreme Court decision. Meanwhile, though, many a religious believer would like to tell them: “Well, ladies and gentlemen of the media, welcome to the club! There are a lot of us who would like to practice our religion freely, according to our constitutional right. And every one of us has been here before you. And every one of us can tell you, you had better be afraid. And every one of us can ask, where were you when the fight started? It is very late in the game to holler foul, because the rules have already been changed. Or didn’t you know?”

MM

About the Author

Malachi B. Martin

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In the short time since the 6 to 3 Supreme Court decision that public figures suing for libel can inquire into the thoughts of media people, many voices have been raised against the Court. “The unmaking of the Constitution,” one commentator called it. “Courts are mugging the press,” a headline ran. “Both publishers and editors believe,” an editor wrote, “that the portion of the First Amendment that protects America’s free press is slowly being eroded by an increasingly anti-press legal and judicial establishment.” Another wept: “Rescue the First Amendment!”

Media people are fearful now of what they call the “chilling effect” of the latest Supreme Court decision. Meanwhile, though, many a religious believer would like to tell them: “Well, ladies and gentlemen of the media, welcome to the club! There are a lot of us who would like to practice our religion freely, according to our constitutional right. And every one of us has been here before you. And every one of us can tell you, you had better be afraid. And every one of us can ask, where were you when the fight started? It is very late in the game to holler foul, because the rules have already been changed. Or didn’t you know?”