Trigger Warning: Is the Fear of Being Offensive Killing Free Speech?. Mick Hume
a sympathetic speaker to get caught out and left behind the fast-changing tide.
But whatever coded form of words they deploy, the crusaders are really saying one of two things: either ‘You-Can’t-Say-THAT!’, if you’re attacked for what is said; or ‘YOU-Can’t-Say-That!’ if the attack is on who said it. Or possibly, both.
But no, no, we must understand, those demanding restrictions on what others can say today are not against free speech. They are simply in favour of freedom from words that may upset or do harm. Who could disagree with such humane sentiments or fail to empathise with those facing what they deem offensive, harmful speech?
You don’t have to be a Bambi-shooting bigot to defend unfettered free speech. Quite the opposite. Free speech is the lifeblood of any modern, liberal-minded society. It follows that any attempt to restrict free speech, however worthy the case might sound, imperils a liberty that has helped to make all our other rights possible.
Never mind the lip service paid to it ‘in principle’ by the free-speech fraudsters today. Underlying attitudes to that freedom have not simply altered in recent times. They have been turned on their head.
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