NH Primary Aftermath

Soapbox Moment
May

Today’s Soapbox moment is brought to you via a discussion I saw go by on FB last night.  I didn’t take part in the discussion because I know the friend in question who started it likes to stir the pot and I really didn’t want to get into it when I still had A Court of Wings and Ruin to finish.  

Nothing was going to ruin my reading chill last night. Nothing.

So, the discussion was about  some conservative leaning and horribly slanted essay trying to  make it’s case that the threat to First Amendment Rights being stifled and trampled on really comes from the liberal leaning set and not from the current government.  Citing the (many) conservative mouthpieces who have had their speeches cancelled due to security concerns at universities.  That universities shape the mindset of future leaders and the universities’ administrators seem blind to the idea of equality and balance.  Ie: that if there are liberals allowed to give speeches then why can’t a conservative- who is known for hate filled bigotry and antisemitism- be allowed to speak too?  

It’s a horrible essay and just another retread of many other equally devoid of critical thinking, competent debate skills and just some godsbedamned UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT and WHAT IT FUCKING ENTAILS.  
 

             

There have been quite a few similar essays from the last six months alone talking about the popular conservative stance that being told “No, you shouldn’t speak here.  We’re worried about safety.”  is the same as the Idiot in Chief saying that he wants to sue the media for being critical of him.  

One person in the discussion absolutely agreed with the essay.  Saying that they had been sworn at, told to “go to hell”, to “shut up” when they stated their opinion and support about the current administration.  That their first amendment rights had been trampled.  

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The 1st Amendment prohibits the Government from denying us, the media, our teachers, your neighbor, pretty much everyone- the right to say what we want, about who we want.

We can be critical.  We can be supportive.  We can call some one a dumbfuck who should burn in hell.  We can protest (that’s the right to assembly part), we can worship (right to religion) all we want.  

What we can not do is present a clear and present threat to someone- threatening to kill, rape or otherwise harm someone is against the law.   If you feel that you have been threatened by someone,  then go to the police.   Rioting- the dark side of protesting- also against the law.  

Weird, I know.

Saying” Fuck You” to someone or telling them to “Fuck Off” however is not.  Neither is telling someone that they can’t speak at an university- even if they had already scheduled the appearance.

That’s not stifling free speech.  

That’s cancelling an appearance, in this case, because of a reasonable threat to safety and security.   Also, Universities have always been the bastion of liberal and progressive thought.  Not exactly covering any new ground here.  If you want someplace steeped in tradition and unlikely to entertain new ideas- go to the Jedi Temple.    

Now, I can be reasonable and am willing to discuss different viewpoints reasonably.  Politely even.   However, having someone cry “poor me” because they were told off for saying something offensive, disagreeable or otherwise shortsighted?
 
Yea, fuck you.   

Stand up and defend yourself in a way that doesn’t fall back on the old and tired logical fallacies. Give them some rest. Being insulted is not the same as being gagged by the government on threat of your life or livelihood.

XKCD's Free Speech Comic