I'm not in favor of censorship, but...: July 2013

When I began following free speech controversies, I was a First Amendment absolutist. Now I’m something less comfortable. I still think free speech is a good idea, certainly better than alternatives I’ve come across, but I’ve learned that everyone has a line that can’t be crossed, a word that sticks in the craw, an image that feels like a kick to the gut. The First Amendment, bless its little heart, always eventually lets us down (self-protection is innate, tolerance an acquired taste), so how can I not be bothered by its limitations?

This is a running log of arguments over free speech – some silly, some funny, some hard -- because free speech is all about argument. Being able to speak our mind makes us feel good and it's essential to real democracy and fairness. Yet, in the end, one of the best reasons to keep our speech rights intact is that we miss them when they’re gone.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

don't like him, but...

"Snowden, I don't like him at all, but we would never have known what happened if he hadn't told us."
Rep. Ted Poe [Texas - GOP]

Snowden, I'm withholding judgement, although everybody I've talked to about him seem to have misgivings -- about his motives, personality, maneuvering -- whatever they choose to call what it is about him that bugs them. Yet, the significance of his actions may be the one thing Mr. Poe and I will ever agree on. Whistleblowers inform us and it's usually information those in power prefer to keep away from the public. The part of the public who've been following -- or trying our best to follow -- the huge govt secrecy puzzle won't be deeply surprised, but Snowden's disclosures shove another piece of that puzzle into place and, probably more important, have gotten us (Congress? hello?) to acknowledge that the puzzle exists. (In large part because of legislation Congress passed, btw. Shades of gambling going on in Casablanca, anyone?)

Thursday, July 18, 2013

On the cover of Rolling Stone

Is the argument over Rolling Stone's cover photo of Tsarnaev jr.perhaps a way of deflecting our anxiety over our inability to ferret out murderous intentions in our midst, despite unprecedented government surveillance of our everyday activities, which are supposed to do just that; i.e. make us safe? Wouldn't be the first time.