Civil Liberties
Related: About this forumSick of Cancel Culture? One Man Has a Surprising Solution.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/10/21/greg-lukianoff-cancel-culture-00121817
The North Star of many civil libertarians was the ACLUs 1976 decision to represent a neo-Nazi group that wanted to march through Skokie, Ill., a Chicago suburb where many Holocaust survivors made their home. Elevating the poignancy and indelibility of the defense was the fact that the lead lawyer, David Goldberger, was Jewish. Longwell said the reachables, who tended to be older, drew a direct connection to Skokie. They had a real reverence for free speech, Longwell said. The nobility of I dont have to like what youre saying, but this is how civil liberties are achieved. By contrast, Longwell added, young people did not think Nazis should be able to march.
HelpImSurrounded
(508 posts)Another clickbait & switch headline? Another non-problem not requiring a solution?
Did anyone else see an actual "solution" in this meandering mess?
reACTIONary
(6,007 posts)I had a bit of a hard time with that also - I think the "solution" refers to his call to teach resilience rather than shielding ourselves in "safe spaces" and "echo chambers".
HelpImSurrounded
(508 posts)J_William_Ryan
(2,124 posts)The linked article makes the mistake of attempting to conflate First Amendment free speech and free expression doctrine with private speech in the context of private society.
Indeed, it was the original intent of the Founding Generation that private citizens in the context of private society determine what speech is appropriate and what speech is not absent interference by government or the courts.
Only government has the potential to violate the First Amendment rights of citizens, not private citizens or private entities; when private citizens denounce speech perceived to be offensive, the right to free speech is not being violated.
Government may not act to preempt or silence the hateful rhetoric of fascists, but private citizens are at complete liberty to do just that.
reACTIONary
(6,007 posts)... It is also an expression, maybe even a poetic expression, of one of the core values of an enlightened, liberal, pluralistic society that values individuals and individual liberty. As a core, foundational value of a liberal social order, we must seek to protect free expression in all of our institutions, and hold those that are subordinate to the government, to support the liberal values we expect of our highest institution.