Secretary of State John Kerry said Americans have the “right to be stupid” in a speech given to a group of German students on Feb. 1 as part of his first official international tour since being installed into office. The topic of his speech has since graced the headlines of international newspapers.Crystal Bates, a senior studying anthropology from Utah, thought the commentary around Kerry’s speech was far too negative. “I think that the media took his words too far out of context,” she said, “but that he also should have thought twice about how he was getting his point across. He could have been more tactful with his delivery.” While people have since criticized him for that particular terminology, Kerry’s overall message was one in defense of the Civil Liberties American’s enjoy under the protection of the first amendment. According to his speech, as documented by Reuters, he said:“People have sometimes wondered about why our Supreme Court allows one group or another to march in a parade even though it's the most provocative thing in the world and they carry signs that are an insult to one group or another. The reason is, that's freedom, freedom of speech. In America you have a right to be stupid — if you want to be.”Ezra Subandriyo, a senior in information systems from Indonesia, said, “People have the right to share their thoughts, but I wished they would think it through deeply before they say it to public. I believe what you say represents what you think and the more nonsense stuff you say, people will know how nonsensical you really are.”The State Department is the organization within the U.S. government that determines American foreign policy. The Secretary of State’s position according to the government State Department page, is to serve as the “President’s chief foreign affairs adviser.” When asked overall how Bates thought this was going to affect Kerry’s international image as Secretary of State, she replied, “I think they’re going to and already have made him into a clown. It is just another reason to laugh at the United States and its leaders.”
Writer: Sydney Odell~Multimedia Journalist
