Posted by Maria Maltseva on Jan 6, 2013 in Atheism, Drama, Feminism, Freethought Blogs, Nonsense, Progressive Politics |

Freeze Peach (formerly known as Free Speech)

You know that a concept is truly ridiculous when online feminists and social justice warriors think of a cutesy name for it. Like, for example, free speech. Surely this is a concept worthy of nothing but mockery and contempt? And of what value are the related freedoms of expression and association? Having grown up in Soviet Russia, I can testify that these things are of no value at all. Being instructed as to which topics I should avoid discussing in public so as not to get my entire family (and those who associated with it) in trouble, and living in constant fear that I might have said the wrong thing in the wrong place was no big deal. After all, every six-year-old should know better than to question authority or propaganda. </sarcasm>

Of course, just because Americans have the right to free speech, doesn’t mean we should always exercise it. I fully agree with the sentiment that people should try their best not to treat each other cruelly, and that reasoned argument, not personal attacks, should be the norm. In fact, a personal attack is generally an indication that someone has no good argument to make, and stands out as such in a debate. Thus, personal attacks come with their own disincentive, since the attacker will generally lose credibility in the eyes of most.

It’s also true that in your blogs, on your social media accounts, and in other privately-owned spaces, you have the right to limit speech in any way you choose. However, what does it say about your ideas when you have to silence even the most polite of critics, as well as anyone who associates with them? Just because you have the right to block people from commenting on the ideas you proclaim as absolute truth, doesn’t mean you should. In the end dissenters will find a way to speak out using other avenues, and eventually, the truth will out no matter how badly you try to suppress it. Because as a country, we value free speech. And that, at least as far as I’m concerned, is a very good thing.