The reaction by many of the PC Police to the terror attack in Texas has been disgusting. The victims of the attack have been criticized for bringing the attack on themselves rather than keeping the focus on the crazy terrorists who tried to commit murder in response to speech, only speech. There is now such a large chunk of the media and the left that no longer buys into the idea of actual free speech that America is inching closer and closer to losing this basic liberty.
It all got me to thinking about things that could be said that might well get an angry response. Suppose someone said one of the following things:
1. Islam is a religion that encourages terror.
2. Christianity teaches its followers to hate gays and lesbians.
3. Jews stole Palestine from its rightful owners the Palestinians.
4. The Arabs in the Middle East behave like such savages that there is no way that Israel could ever make peace with them.
5. African Americans are mostly in the poorer groups in American society because of white privilege and racism that keeps them down.
6. African Americans don't work hard enough to better their lot in life and rely instead on the government. As a result, they end up perpetually poor.
Every one of these statements is offensive to a great many people. No one could deny that. But consider all those who now condemn the targets of the Texas terror attack. Most of those people would similarly be outraged at anyone who said items 1, 4 or 6, and they would see a justification for a violent response to such statements. On the other hand, these same people would think that items 2, 3, and 5 are just free speech, the well discussed concept of speaking truth to power. The reality, of course, is that all of these statements are protected free speech, whether or not one agrees with the content of the statement.
We all need to support free speech for everyone, even those with whom we do NOT agree.
It all got me to thinking about things that could be said that might well get an angry response. Suppose someone said one of the following things:
1. Islam is a religion that encourages terror.
2. Christianity teaches its followers to hate gays and lesbians.
3. Jews stole Palestine from its rightful owners the Palestinians.
4. The Arabs in the Middle East behave like such savages that there is no way that Israel could ever make peace with them.
5. African Americans are mostly in the poorer groups in American society because of white privilege and racism that keeps them down.
6. African Americans don't work hard enough to better their lot in life and rely instead on the government. As a result, they end up perpetually poor.
Every one of these statements is offensive to a great many people. No one could deny that. But consider all those who now condemn the targets of the Texas terror attack. Most of those people would similarly be outraged at anyone who said items 1, 4 or 6, and they would see a justification for a violent response to such statements. On the other hand, these same people would think that items 2, 3, and 5 are just free speech, the well discussed concept of speaking truth to power. The reality, of course, is that all of these statements are protected free speech, whether or not one agrees with the content of the statement.
We all need to support free speech for everyone, even those with whom we do NOT agree.
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