I have been writing for years about the rising wave of intolerance for free speech that has swept over Europe and is now reaching our own shores in the United States. Attacks on free speech are increasing from the left which has cracked down on speech deemed offensive or intimidating to any group. Thus far, the United States has been a bulwark against this trend, but an editorial in the New York Times this week is a chilling example of how voices against free speech are now becoming mainstream. The editorial was written by K-Sue Park is a housing attorney and the Critical Race Studies fellow at the U.C.L.A. School of Law. Park criticizes the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for what she views as blind fealty to free speech and suggests that it is time to stop defending Nazis because sometimes standing on the wrong side of history in defense of a cause you think is right is still just standing on the wrong side of history. Of course, many of us believe that the wrong side of history is the side where free speech depends on what you want to say — and whether people like Park agree with it.
Park chastises the ACLU that “[b]y insisting on a narrow reading of the First Amendment, the organization provides free legal support to hate-based causes. More troubling, the legal gains on which the A.C.L.U. rests its colorblind logic have never secured real freedom or even safety for all.” Park’s disdain for “colorblind logic” is unfortunately increasingly common among university professors who are abandoning core principles of free speech and association to achieve their goals for social advancement and “real freedom.” It appears that “real freedom” for Park is found somewhere without true free speech.
Park insists that the ACLU “perpetuates a misguided theory that all radical views are equal. And it fuels right-wing free-speech hypocrisy.” It appears that Park’s own radical views on free speech should be deemed superior because . . . well . . . she is just right. She wants the ACLU to calculate who it supports in court to fight “right-wing power” and presumably allow the more enlightened left-wing power to flourish. It is constitutional law meets Animal Farm where “all radical views” are equal but some are more equal than others.
Park’s views may reflect her teaching of Critical Race Studies at the U.C.L.A. School of Law, but they are inimical to the core protections that define our Constitution . . . and the ACLU.
Sure this sort of stuff is neo-fascism, but does anybody really think the Democratic Party gives a hoot??? They are out to get votes and stay in power no matter what. They are not going to let a silly little concept like “freedom” stand in the way of that. And a very big part of staying in power is controlling the narrative. Which is more difficult when dissent is allowed.
That is why the SJWs and Antifa types (The Brownshirts of the Democratic Party) shut down the Milos, the Ann Coulters, the Ben Shapiros, and whoever has a message contrary to The Narrative.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Should the Pyramids and other suck Egyptian monuments be taken down? After all, didn’t the pharaohs have slaves? Where is the ADL on all of this?
billmcwilliams – the Egyptians had slaves, usually war captives. However, latest evidence seems to show the pyramids were built by teams of corvee labor of Egyptians themselves. They were highly skilled at each of their jobs and competed with the other gangs (4 total) who were working to complete the project. They were well-fed, given beer and well housed. They even had excellent medical care.
Nobody had excellent medical care in the third milliennium bc
They didn’t have lethal prescription drugs and greedy doctors, so medical care was much better.
Christian Science is nonsense.
DSS – they reset broken bones which healed properly, they seemed to have a series of medicines for most ailments, most of which they survived. They have found the town and graveyard for these workers and it has been very enlightening.
they seemed to have a series of medicines for most ailments,
You’re letting your imagination run fairly wild here.
DSS – absolutely not. Watched a fascinating documentary on it.
I think the History Channel is also offering documentaries on alien visitations.
DSS – if you have ever seen the Great Gallery at Horseshoe Canyon, UT you would watch the alien stuff, too. 🙂
Paul, I thought the pyramids were built by space aliens?
FFS – theories change every couple of years. When I was a kid, they thought they built this huge ramp right to the top to get the stones up. Now, they find the Egyptians were fine engineers who could block-and-tackle it part way up and then put it on wetted rollers. Really an imaginative system.
Personally, I am of the theory that the Greeks learned their math and geometry from the Egyptians. They used to meet on an island about half-way for seminars(?) The Egyptians were not big on writing down formulas, etc., but the Greeks were. It is a theory, I cannot prove it, but it does have historical backing.
The overwhelming majority of the pro-Confederate statutes went up as a knee-jerk reaction against blacks, when they started successfully overturning Jim Crow laws. They never did represent history–they were intentionally erected as a statement about white supremacy. That’s why they need to go. And, no, Washington and Lee are not equivalent. Lee was a traitor. Washington was a nation-builder
Natacha – you do not know enough about the Civil War or Robert E. Lee to say he was a traitor.
Well, let’s see now: George Washington fought to get out from under the rule of a monarchy in which he had no say as to whom was in charge. Washington had no right to vote for the laws or those who made them, he was forced to pay taxes to England and risked his life to establish a new government based on the idea that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among them: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Lee fought against his own democratically-established government to rebel against abolition of the bondage of human beings who were forced to leave their homeland and work as slaves because of their race. Who’s the hero, anyway? Lee was personally responsible for the bloodshed at Gettysburg: three times (THREE!) he led his men up a heavily-fortified hill to their deaths because he arrogantly believed that his southern boys, there to protect white supremacy, just had to win. They didn’t. Did you know that Lee’s wife was the granddaughter of George Washington? I did. Just for the sake of healing the nation’s wounds, it was decided not to prosecute Lee as a traitor. Lincoln said: “with charity for all and malice toward none.”
Natacha – Lee, like Grant was a field commander. They ordered other people to lead charges. His big mistake was Pickett’s Charge. Meade was the Union commander and asked advice from his subordinates, an unusual event. However, it did work out for Gettysburg.
Lee never lead an attack, much less three.
You need to study your history more. Lee admitted to his troops that Gettysburg was his own fault.
Natacha – you need to read more. Lee admitted to Pickett’s men that the charge was his mistake, not Gettysburg.
You are missing the point because you are getting lost in the details: Washington fought against a monarchy to establish a nation where people could be free and elect those who make the laws and rules. Lee led a revolt against his own democratic nation because he wanted to maintain the lack of freedom for human beings who were enslaved. These two men are by no means comparable.
Also: After the house she was located in was seized by Union troops, Lee’s wife received round-the-clock quality nursing care by a squad of 7 nurses assigned solely to her, because she had rheumatoid arthritis and was confined to bed. The Union army took good care of her because she was related to George Washington, neglecting Union soldiers who needed nursing care more. More suffering caused by Lee.
More suffering caused by Lee.
You do a good job of reminding people you’re a common (and very disagreeable) feminine type. I bet she had better shoes than you do as well.
Natacha – it is not called the War of Northern Aggression for nothing. Lee fought off an invasion of his country, the CSA. The South did fire on Fort Sumpter first, however, they were given the opportunity to leave and did not. The fort controlled the harbor and needed to be taken before the fort was resupplied, which it was.
I will contend today that California has as much right to secede as the Southern states and Texas had the most right. And if southern Arizona wants to secede and join Mexico, as long as they pay us back for the infrastructure we put in, plus the University, etc. I will help them pack their bags.
Everyone knows the Egyptian Army Corps of Engineers built the pyramids. Sheesh, where have you been hiding your cleansed and rewritten history books?
ModernMiner – that is an excellent description of the work gangs that built the pyramids. They were the Egyptian Army Corp of Engineers. And they didn’t screw up the Nile with too many dams, like ours did.
So BLM/Antifa speech is meant to be free, but if anyone disagrees with them then we must let them be either punched in the face or have their speech suppressed at the source? This is the end result of nearly a century of creeping cultural Marxism and of the process they referred to as the March Through the Institutions-Law, Politics, the Courts, Higher Education followed by Secondary Education, down to other professions, even including Medicine. So, let me ask. Who really are the Fascists?
One of the most important aspects of free speech, if not the most important, is that it ‘outs’ fascists, racists, bigots, and other undesirables. Along with protecting the freedom of everyone to speak their thoughts, comes an understanding of to what degree the society is backward socially. The vitriol found on this blog is an example of how people can’t help placing anyone the disagree with on ‘the other side’; in the case of the right wing, the left is ‘all’ bad. We need to understand just how sick this society is and the only way to do that is to allow the sickos their time on the soap box. Those connected with humankind’s most vile characteristics must be exposed. This is the real mistake of the left.
Right. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
One key issue, insufficiently discussed it seems to me, shows itself through your use in this piece of the “passive voice”. You write “…which has cracked down on speech DEEMED offensive or intimidating to any group.” (MY EMPHASIS)
Who “deems”? Who has standing to “deem” something/anything “offensive” or “intimidating” so as to trigger free expresssion limitations? Have we ceded to K-Sue Park the authority to determine what expression is to be limited or curtailed? Does he/she/it speak “ex cathedra” on matters of defining what is hate speech? Does Park get to define on behalf of us all what is or is not hate speech? Why not you? Why not me? Why can I not determine which offensive speech is “hate”?
And that is a key issue. By my own definitions, the anti-semitic, anti-black utterances of the Neo-Nazis qualify as “hate speech”. but I happen to think the same thing about many of the things said by the Antifa and BLM and BDS supporters as well. I have read articles accusing those who object to men going into the bathrooms behind little girls as “haters”. Those who seek more evidence that climate change is anthropomorphic have been labelled “deniers”…can “haters” be far behind? Dissent is today frequently being equated with “hate”.
I think we must use the active voice. I think we must identify who wishes to identify speech/expression as offensive, intimidating or hateful. As such, we would then be able to identify who it is that applies the label, and ask what is their standing to make such an assessment, to start us down this slippery slope and to impose consequences such as suppression.
Nice perspective RJBM. Usually, especially as of late, this whole hate speech thing has just been a means to an end, and not utilized for its original purpose. Hate speech laws should be repealed. Let the quality of an argument stand it’s own ground. If you feel you need to resort to physical violence to counter a point, you should go to jail. As I stated yesterday, many people today are just not up to having a democratic republic if they are so easily and deeply offended. Sticks and stones in the end.
Thank you for your reply. Another point is that if you suppress opinion, it just goes underground. It is always better to see who is saying what.
Well said, Mr. MacLean. This has to be the consistent push-back: Who gets to determine what speech is “hate speech” and which is not?
Thank you for your response. I agree with you. Whenever someone says “That is hate speech” the immediate response should be “Says who?” followed by “Who gave XYZ the standing to make that determination on behalf of the rest of us?”
If Lefties can erase history, then they can’t ever be accused of repeating it.
Free speech is for everyone: saints and sinners, left and right, Trump and Hillary, Issac and Spinelli, Stalinists and Nazis, Hugh Hewitt and Wasserman-Schulz. Even for fools like Park.
Advocates for free speech, like the ACLU, do not endorse or legitimize the views of those whose right to free speech they defend. Rather, these advocates endorse a key principle that allows every single one of the posters here to express their views, no matter how enlightened or odious. This key principle is of critical importance to our society.
Park’s arguments, and similar arguments from any part of the political spectrum, should be loudly criticized by everyone.
Must remember The Constitution is as whole document. On cannot cry out for free speech while ignoring ‘peaceful assembly nor can one cry freedom of religion while denying it or while trying to apply one of th 150 plus versions as the throne and sceptre of God passed down to one or two individuals.
In the social contract you either accept the entire package or ….take a hike as the left has done.
Let’s ban everybody we don’t like since that fascist, racist Bill of Rights was written by people who were fascists and racists and we surely don’t like them ’cause we characterize them as such and thus their ideas are corrupt ab initio. Have I got that “argument” right?
Bingo! And, MLK was opposed to gay marriage so we need to remove all street signs and statues erected in his honor.
On a serious note, I make quarterly donations to FIRE, the free speech on campus website. I’ve just added the ACLU to my quarterly routine. And, I encourage others to make whatever donations you can to FIRE and the ACLU. There is a coup underway good people. These groups can help fight the fascists peacefully.
Great analogy of false premise rationalizing to wrong conclusion and far from an argument or debate point is more an admission of guilt to those who are programmed to not think that way.
Parks should take a history course and she would fine Nazi-sim is the offshoot of Communism and stems from the same philosophical genesis through the poltical science branch of that discipline. The left has the advantage of a huge propaganda machine with absolutely no moral values except loyalty to the party and in the past simply moved the center post to the center of the left. At the same time they dubbed anywone they disagree with as ‘conservative.’ No mattere what they are.
For the uneducated in a Representative Constitutional Republic manned by self governing citizens the centeer if of course The Constitution. Something Parks has not doubt not heard about as of yet.
When something like this gets published in the New York Times, you need to be afraid — very afraid.
The backup that joined the fray last November is the US Military who really did spear head the move to band togtether the disparate and unrepresented groupings under a couple three prnciples. Ballots Not Bullets, The first lines of their oath of office, And the preference to having people take part rather than wait for them to uiphold that oath of office. Worked rather well and better than we had expected but you won’t find the pollsters much interested. Too bad so sad they get to fail again.
The First Amendment is more powerful than these passing hobgoblins with little minds. Thankfully, the internet will preserve this person’s vapid and hysterical prattle so that thinking persons will know what type of fool they’re dealing with.
Every fundamental right has a shelf life of a generation or so and needs to be renewed by our education system. Anybody want to count on our current public schools for that?
mespo, The Education Industry is fueling this PC insanity.
That’s why three years ago I called out these PC factories known as college campuses.
So this is what we’ve come to? An America where speech is regulated as in Russia. Do we have to stoop so far that WORDS can now harm us? Are we that WEAK? Come on America, grow up you liberals that want only “soothing” things said. Do you want your brain to rot and fall out your nose? Free speech equals a healthy mind. It stimulates thought and gives young people a new look at life outside of the liberal dominated universities. You might not agree with it but it gives one something to think about, an alternate view. We are people, not robots!
Always good to see a free thinking woman here, beakie. You will see a couple alt left women trolling here now going by “frankly” and “anonymous” They are old timers who used to run this place.
Deep breaths, Nick.
(A little too much coffee this morning?)
Nick wrote: “You will see a couple alt left women trolling here now going by “frankly” and “anonymous” They are old timers who used to run this place.”
By golly put up those “Wanted” posters!
Yesterday, “frankly” was “a paid Soros operative” — according to the Nickster. And a couple of days ago, “Elaine” (who doesn’t even post here, AFAIK) was accused of trying to take over the blog. Today, we’re a couple of “alt left women trolling here.”
(If “frankly” is a paid Soros operative”, then I’m the Queen of England… — or “Elaine.” But there are “tells”, according to Nick… Wow. Shaking my head… All one can do is laugh.)
And the only person who “runs this place” is Jonathan Turley, Nick.
anonymous – you forgot Darren. He really runs the blog more than JT.
According to Nick,i have had many paid jobs since I retired. If I show up here I must be paid. I think, perhaps, he is projecting. I told my husband yesterday about the alleged Soros gig and he asked me what I have been doing with the checks. 🙂
frankly – I hope you are saving up for some Jimmy Choo’s.
SWM, I apologized and you persist. Classless woman, absolutely CLASSLESS!! You made a big mistake.
“I told my husband yesterday about the alleged Soros gig and he asked me what I have been doing with the checks.”
Thanks for the laugh. (I see that you’ve been put on notice — below: “You made a big mistake.” And you’re “classless” to boot. : ))
SMH.
That was @ frankly. And “below” is “above.” : )
LOL! Elaine Mags, aka anonymous, does not do her homework, is stupid, or is dishonest. If she did her homework she would see I forthrightly took back my paid Soros allegation vis a vis SWM, apologized, and promised to not repeat my transgression. But, because Elaine is too lazy, stupid or dishonest, she DOES repeat, what I promised not to do. I surmise her reposting this comment is a combo of 2 of her aforementioned shortcomings.
This is a classic Elaine Magliaro pathology. And, she taught your children!!
Her name really is Elaine? I thought you were making Seinfeld references.
Desperate, LOL. No, an old time weekend blogger, Elaine Magliaro.
As I’ve said before, you must really have a thing for Elaine M.
https://youtu.be/DXItV6Fddec
“The tells”??? Rolling… Too funny, Nick, but you persist. Get over it.
LOL
https://youtu.be/DXItV6Fddec
Take the blog with you, Nick, and you’ll save a fortune. (You’ll feel better if you work through this whole “Elaine’ thing.)
In the meantime? Scroll. And breathe.
You missed “the tells”, Nick. Heck of a PI.
I thought as much. I don’t comment as much these days because it’s just the same crap over and over ad naseum. Frankly, it wears me down and I have better things to do with my life. I unfriended my sister in St Paul for the same reason. The last election really did it for me. It’s not fun to watch news anymore and I was a junkie for decades. I can’t stand the vitriol, even on Fox. People should have reminders of the transgressions of the past lest they forget it and repeat it in some horrible way. I want to look ahead with positivity and make my world a better place, not dwell on the past and try to erase it. Everyone seems so negative, angry and crazy. We ought to focus on the future and leave the past, in the past. Thanks for letting me vent……….
Take note of how posts that show just how fascist the left has become doesn’t attract the American Taliban we have commenting here!
Messrs. Groen and Benson know when to fold ’em. Natacha, bettykath, frankly, and FishWings must be busy this morning.
I though the American Taliban was serving consecutive life terms.
Without free speech, we wouldn’t know just how dangerous the Left has become.
Superb point, vinegart. I think JT is getting serious agita about his people quickly turning into fascists.
The whole idea behind free speech is that all opinions and grievances get aired before they fester and turn to violence. K-Sue Park may Learn this the hard way. One person’s opinion is another persons extreme opinion. She may find herself on the wrong side of the free speech issue when she, herself, is silenced when someone decides her opinions are radical.
Louise, these addled academics don’t understand your fundamental point. They don’t understand the Constitution and are trying to rewrite it w/o due process.
They don’t care about the Constitution, or any constitution. They have a self-concept that’s remarkably silly and pretentious, though. My grandparents contemporaries were merely snobbish about manners.
So, UCLA does not teach the US Constitution in Law School.
slohrs, This is the alt left Education Industry infiltrating government.
Here it comes. Soon the fireman from Fahrenheit 451 will be making their rounds. I’m sure the impulsive lefties are ready sign on the dotted line to get this party started!
Fascism, plain and simple.
x
It has nothing to do with fascism. It’s more along the lines of Manuel Azana justifying the abuses of the Spanish Republic by saying ‘it’s a matter of public health’. This is our New Class bourgeoisie telling us we work for them always and everywhere, and that they’re enfranchised to treat us as unruly teenagers.