Free Speech

When I am in a debate or argument, few things annoy me more than someone saying, “... Of course you are saying this because you have the luxury of speaking your mind in [Canada, US, Britain, or any “free speech” country].” It is annoying not so much because it is cowardly and underhanded, but it is self-contradictory and hypocritical. What is the implication in such an utterance but to suggest that the person on the other side should shut up or temper his speech because it is legal for her to speak. If this is not self-contradiction, I do not know what is. This may be technical if this were not a self-contradiction in idea also. I mean this utterance at once lauds the virtue of free speech while trying to limit the opponent's access to it. This is doubly so when the utterance is usually made when the addressee is disagreeing with the position of the government or prevailing ideology of the country in question. The implication therefore extends beyond the personal to the national-political: “be thankful that you live in this country that allows free speech and do not criticize it.” Why do we need free speech but to criticize the government and the prevailing ideology? What use of free speech if we self-censure our speech so as not to go against government or ideology? Is it not hypocrisy to invoke one thing while using that invocation to deny its execution? And for that I despise anyone who utters those words.