The Right to Free Speech

For John, BLUF:  A lot of folks just aren't comfortable with free speech.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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C:101 — Censorship

From the Blog Stopping in Flyover Country, by Mr Patrick Richardson, 26 December 2019.

Here is the lede plus five:

A few years ago a Supreme Court Decision came down that said the whackjobs from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. actually did have the right to protest at the funerals of fallen soldiers holding signs saying “God Hates Fags.”

Darkside Dave told me that for once his liberal family seemed to make sense, saying Westboro had the right to do that, even if it was ugly speech.  It might, of course, be the one and only time a liberal ever agreed with anything the odious (late, and highly unlamented) Rev. Fred Phelps and his so-called church had to say.

Of course, they tend to label any speech they disagree with “hate speech,” and try to shut it down a’la Citizens United and “Hillary:  The Movie.”

People and politicians on both sides of the political divide tend to be a bit on the selective side about what they consider “protected speech,” under the First Amendment.  Generally, if they agree with it, then it’s protected, if they disagree then it’s not.

Granted the left tends to be a bit worse about this one, but not much.  The left tends to scream racism and hate speech (I’m frankly still a bit confused as to exactly what hate speech IS, but that’s just me) and the right has a tendency to try to ban books with which they don’t agree.

Both positions are monumentally stupid.

We need free speech if we are to grow as humanity.  Even with divinely revealed truth, it is wrong to impose it by force on others.  Free speech allows it to be transmitted.  And even so, within that truth there is much to learn.  To be learned through free and open discussion.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff