Yes, I’ve already posted this. It was a long time ago; I was still working at Schneider.
As I walked the thoroughfare communing with me soul
I heard an ugly, grating voice that issued from a hole
I don’t mind looking stupid, so I bent down to see
It was an troll who took a mind to remonstrate with me.
“Your walk, your laugh, your mode of dress —
you’re going straight to hell!” “Damn straight,” says I
“I’ll see the friends I loved in life so well”
Says I “That’s your opinion! and it has not been proved..
But I’d die for your right to say that crap
and I will not be moved.”
Chorus
So swift to say shut up, so swift to say no fair
So swift to claim the firmament with nothing but hot air
Be careful who you censor, be careful who you squelch
And slow to mar the human rights of anybody else!
The troll was most offended, and said I misconstrued
his words and his intent and that besides I was quite rude
I said he had a kingdom that ended at his nose
And my support of his free speech was not some moonbat pose.
I can’t expect imagination from a common troll
Nor yet appreciation — that would be something droll
But if you can’t agree with me, try something on for size
And make a proper argument and not just yell out ‘Lies!’
Chorus
The troll was even more put out, in fact he was quite pissed
and then remarked as homo sap I was quite prejudiced
When troll boy came out with this tosh I laughed most heartily
And said “I read SF and think — it’s all the same to me!
I’ve no right to deny you rights, so kindly think it out
With the gift of speech you also get the benefit of doubt
As long as we are talking, we may be hopeful still
So let’s get something fine to drink, and put it on my bill.
Don’t be so fast to shut me up or tell me I’m not fair
I’m really not that bad a sort It’s not like I don’t care
Be careful who you censor, be careful who you squelch
Be slow to mar the human rights of anybody else
And now there is a coda
The flourish at the end
Harsh words will make you enemies
and very rarely friends
But when I speak of censorship
I know too well the cost
For if you have to censor me….
you have already lost.
