We were talking about freedom today...
In my online ethics class, the subject of freedom of speech was brought up. I got pissed off from someone’s post, so this was what I decided to share with the class.
““People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid.” -Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
This quote makes me think of free speech, for obvious reasons, and how people view this freedom of speech we possess. From what I’ve seen in the world, people generally only start preaching on how they have the freedom to say whatever they want when people are appalled at what is being said. I’ve seen news videos of white extremists using slurs against Jews and Muslims, saying how God will strike them down, only to see the people who are rightfully horrified by this display of hatred to be told that “Everyone has the freedom of speech”.
This quote makes me think of these kind of people, who talk and fill the world with hatred, but obviously don’t use their freedom of thought. If these people would think and use their brains instead of talking uneducated nonsense, they might see that what they’re saying has no merit. Instead, people continue to cry “freedom of speech” and ignore the threat that this type of ‘’freedom’’ possesses. At first, all Adolf Hitler did was talk; not everyone took him serious, for good reason. He blamed the Jews for everything in Germany; for taking jobs away from non-Jews, for economic issues, anything that could be said was. And because it was ‘only’ freedom of speech, no one acted until it was too late.
I’m not saying freedom of speech is bad; the freedom to speak freely is a wonderful and beautiful thing. But just because people can say anything doesn’t mean they should. Most people are taught this from the time they learn to talk. Freedom of speech is a privilege, and it also means that when you are hate-mongering in a public place, I too have the right to loudly and stubbornly disagree with you.”
Most of these people are conservationists and I’m now waiting for the shit to hit the fan. But I’m angry and in a mood and ready to punch some Nazi's, so bring it.
Tagging @theaveragedayofatinygay and @soxci becuase I think you’ll appreciate this.