Since the advent of civilization, reliance on force to conquer others has given way more and more to using reason to convince people. To use reason requires speech or the written language to express ideas, and only with "appropriate" expression will people obey willingly.

The force of speech is often greater than that of writing. At the least, face to face communication can use tools not available to writing--pauses, expression, gestures, and bearing. Speech is the cheapest, most convenient, earliest use type of communication; it has been an important tool in the transformation of man into a social animal. Therefore, it has an extraordinarily intimate relationship with social relations.

The study of speech starts with the early Greek city-states. It passed through Europe and the British Isles and came to the U.S. Northwestern University established its "School of Speech" in 1878; speech and rhetoric were required courses in high school and university.

Among the many theories of the study of speech, one widely recognized as important is the "good man theory." The main point is that a speaker must have a good, conscientious mind, and only then can one say things of benefit to society. The features of the "good man" are honesty and selflessness.

From the "good man theory" have developed the "three requirements of communication." These are that speech has substance, that it is responsible, and that it has a positive result.

In a democratic political system and free society, everyone has the right to express their opinions. This is the concrete manifestation of the truth that "all men are created equal." However, simply because "all men are created equal," the basic requirement for democracy and freedom is "justice."

Fair competition is an example of "justice": regardless of who wins or who loses, the justice of the process wins the approval of the public. In expressing opinions, "justice" is the criterion for setting norms for those who speak out. Everyone must respect it; even more should they defend it.

What has this got to do with the "good man theory" and the "three requirements"? If people do not confirm the relationship between these elements, even if one lives in a democratic system, this is only "premature democracy." Even if one is free from restraint, this kind of freedom just lets anyone do as they please.

Unrestrained freedom is easily produced in "premature democracy." This situation is extremely dangerous. It is like a man who appears strong on the outside but is in fact brittle on the inside, and easily falls victim to bacteria which can't be seen bv the human eye.

How can we recognize "premature democracy" and "unrestrained freedom"? The easiest way is to look at the words of the popular representatives. Even more important is to look at their attitudes and style when speaking. In a "premature democracy" or in "unrestrained freedom," the popular representatives often violate the "good man theory" and the "three requirements."

Because in speaking a person uses not only his lips and tongue, but also his whole person including his character and degree of refinement; his "words" represent his "heart and mind." Our ancestors affirmed early on that "words are the sounds of the heart," which is certainly an immortal truth.

We can use a somewhat more crass popular saying, "A dog can't spit out ivory teeth," to popularize the rationale that one should "judge a man's character by what he says." This will enable the ordinary people, who stand to lose the most from the bad effects of this "prematurity" and "lack of restraint," to analyze whether or not the behavior and character of the popular representatives is consistent with the standards of the "good man." Does their speech have substance? Does their speech benefit society? Does their speech yield the results that we anticipate? Does it have any side-effects? Is it crass? Is it responsible?

Take for example the "settling of old accounts." The British statesman Churchill once said, "If we are always arguing between the past and the present, we may lose the future." Settling old accounts is not worth it!

The effects of speech on society are great. We should study it, and use it well, to see our democracy mature soon and see our freedom blossom.

A church in Manila's Chinatown: its history is long, believers close knit.

Business is better on the weekends at the city's movie theaters.