Gisborne Herald
  • Gisborne Herald Home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Locations

  • Gisborne
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Hawke's Bay

Media

  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Opinion
Home / Gisborne Herald / Opinion

Speech, thought less free

Opinion by
Gisborne Herald
16 Apr, 2024 07:23 PMQuick Read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Once upon a time there were relatively few limits on what you could think or say.
This is not the case any more, as unpopular/contrary opinions and responses can bring about heavy-handed censorship, and often a very personalised and rabid attack!
Parameters in some public and educational sectors are so deeply entrenched
or governed that people have literally been silenced or are too afraid to share what they think or believe.
As much as some people are acutely aware of what appears to be strategic grooming and conditioning to a new era of human communication, just as many others appear to be blissfully unaware.
What has occurred, whereby we find ourselves in this peculiar and very troubling predicament?
Is a spirit of division and accusation actively at work?
What I find even more frightening is that this very culture is now strongly seeded in mainstream society.
Another factor at play is public indifference brought about by ever-increasing and consuming financial and social hardship.
What can or should we do? To do nothing is an option, but with not a particularly bright outcome.
To speak out collectively is important, but without attacking or condemning others.
In order to facilitate a healthy resistance to what is happening in  regard to censorship of speech and thought, appropriate leadership is paramount.
Looking back through human history, who might stand out as an exemplary model to replicate?
Is it time to take a stand?

Russell Tolley

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save
    Share this article

Latest from Gisborne Herald

Gisborne Herald

Tairāwhiti developed off-grid communication network saving thousands of dollars

22 Sep 04:01 AM
Gisborne Herald

'Test of endurance': Titirangi challenge back to raise funds for bowel cancer

22 Sep 02:14 AM
Gisborne Herald

Police inquiries ongoing after Gisborne crash brings down power pole

22 Sep 02:11 AM

Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Gisborne Herald

Tairāwhiti developed off-grid communication network saving thousands of dollars
Gisborne Herald

Tairāwhiti developed off-grid communication network saving thousands of dollars

The blackout during Cyclone Gabrielle pushed Tairāwhiti to find solutions.

22 Sep 04:01 AM
'Test of endurance': Titirangi challenge back to raise funds for bowel cancer
Gisborne Herald

'Test of endurance': Titirangi challenge back to raise funds for bowel cancer

22 Sep 02:14 AM
Police inquiries ongoing after Gisborne crash brings down power pole
Gisborne Herald

Police inquiries ongoing after Gisborne crash brings down power pole

22 Sep 02:11 AM


Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable
Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Gisborne Herald
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Gisborne Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP