Thanks for this artcile, Mr. Chapman. It saddens me that all three of the comments refuse to address your points, retreating to full-on whataboutism.
To the whatabouters: Either free speech is important -- or it's not. Either the search for truth, unencumbered by political correctness (whether right-wing or left-wing) is important -- or it's not. Make your choice! Take your stand!
If it's not important, then shut the fuck up about it when the left does it. If it is important, then screech like a banshee when the right does it. (And yes, of course, the same thing applies to the whatabouters of the left.)
If you can't follow this simple rule, then all you care about is your tribe. And you're part of the problem.
"Monkey see, monkey do" goes the old saying. The academic Left's success at intimidating and silencing dissenting voices has obviously prompted the non-Left to adopt and use marginal or even repugnant practices.
This is a reflection of the emerging US Zeitgeist: Aspiring pols will now run for office saying: "Sure, I'm bad. But not as bad as my opponent; so vote for me!"
I admit I stopped reading halfway through, so I don't know if the author also took to task those left wing students who routinely disrupt conservative speakers invited to address the student body, but — sight unseen — I'd bet good money that there wasn't even a hint of that.
The worm has turned. Do you love it? Do you hate it? Here it is, the way you made it.
For an overview of who is doing what to restrict free speech, see https://www.harvard-jlpp.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2022/07/TURLEY_VOL45_ISS2.pdf. Anyone who adopts an authoritarian approach should be criticized. For over 100 years, progressives have asserted that rights are government-granted privileges (See Dewey, Wilson, Roosevelt, etc.) Even Cass Sunstein, whom I admire, seems to say that government officials are not obligated to secure rights that lack popular political support. It is true that over many years some on the right have treated rights as government-granted privileges by advocating laws that impose private morality (restrictions on adultery, homosexuality, contraceptives, etc.), but most of those restrictions have been held unconstitutional. The latest attempt on the right is "common good constitutionalism," but it's too early to assess whether that will catch on. If people on the right (those use call "Trumpists") are now adopting the views of the left about rights, I condemn that. But do you dispute the fact that there is widespread acceptance on the left of a view of free speech that is at odds with our founding principles? Also, do you deny that those who advocate that view have had great success in convincing young people to adopt it? See this for interesting statistics on views about free speech. https://www.cato.org/survey-reports/state-free-speech-tolerance-america#overview
Multiple blue states have recently passed laws giving the State the right to remove children from parents who do not "affirm" their child's new "gender identity" and consent to castrating drugs ("puberty blockers"), cross-sex hormones, and genital mutilation surgery. What could possibly be more illiberal and authoritarian than this?
Yes, I will choose right-wing "authoritarianism" any day of the week over having my kids taken away from me and mutilated.
Good point. Tyranny is a recurring theme on both the left and right and has been for centuries. But we're talking about the modern manifestation that currently affects our lives. Also, it is undeniable that the left's current philosophy of free speech is consistent with cancel culture, and that philosophy is dominant in universities, despite outliers like Texas A&M. The left is not just engaged in tribal politics but engaged in a philosophical project that openly rejects our founding principles of liberty.
They are overreactions to trends on the left that have been accumulating for years. I still think they are aberrations and will subside when their alarmism does. If not, then we are truly lost.
I think cancel culture is a cancer on our society, whichever side in our political divide engages in it. Is there any sign that either side will stop it if the other does as well? It originated on the left. Who on the left is willing to stop it and have a truce? Is it even possible at this point for the left to backtrack given the left's widespread belief that suppressing speech against leftist ideas is justified?
Thanks for this artcile, Mr. Chapman. It saddens me that all three of the comments refuse to address your points, retreating to full-on whataboutism.
To the whatabouters: Either free speech is important -- or it's not. Either the search for truth, unencumbered by political correctness (whether right-wing or left-wing) is important -- or it's not. Make your choice! Take your stand!
If it's not important, then shut the fuck up about it when the left does it. If it is important, then screech like a banshee when the right does it. (And yes, of course, the same thing applies to the whatabouters of the left.)
If you can't follow this simple rule, then all you care about is your tribe. And you're part of the problem.
Is this the same GOP that decries it when they feel their freedom of speech has been quashed? What a bunch of fascists
"Monkey see, monkey do" goes the old saying. The academic Left's success at intimidating and silencing dissenting voices has obviously prompted the non-Left to adopt and use marginal or even repugnant practices.
This is a reflection of the emerging US Zeitgeist: Aspiring pols will now run for office saying: "Sure, I'm bad. But not as bad as my opponent; so vote for me!"
Whoo hoo!! Look whose ox is getting gored!
I admit I stopped reading halfway through, so I don't know if the author also took to task those left wing students who routinely disrupt conservative speakers invited to address the student body, but — sight unseen — I'd bet good money that there wasn't even a hint of that.
The worm has turned. Do you love it? Do you hate it? Here it is, the way you made it.
This is why I often say that every right-wing accusation is not only a confession, but a stated intention.
For an overview of who is doing what to restrict free speech, see https://www.harvard-jlpp.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2022/07/TURLEY_VOL45_ISS2.pdf. Anyone who adopts an authoritarian approach should be criticized. For over 100 years, progressives have asserted that rights are government-granted privileges (See Dewey, Wilson, Roosevelt, etc.) Even Cass Sunstein, whom I admire, seems to say that government officials are not obligated to secure rights that lack popular political support. It is true that over many years some on the right have treated rights as government-granted privileges by advocating laws that impose private morality (restrictions on adultery, homosexuality, contraceptives, etc.), but most of those restrictions have been held unconstitutional. The latest attempt on the right is "common good constitutionalism," but it's too early to assess whether that will catch on. If people on the right (those use call "Trumpists") are now adopting the views of the left about rights, I condemn that. But do you dispute the fact that there is widespread acceptance on the left of a view of free speech that is at odds with our founding principles? Also, do you deny that those who advocate that view have had great success in convincing young people to adopt it? See this for interesting statistics on views about free speech. https://www.cato.org/survey-reports/state-free-speech-tolerance-america#overview
Multiple blue states have recently passed laws giving the State the right to remove children from parents who do not "affirm" their child's new "gender identity" and consent to castrating drugs ("puberty blockers"), cross-sex hormones, and genital mutilation surgery. What could possibly be more illiberal and authoritarian than this?
Yes, I will choose right-wing "authoritarianism" any day of the week over having my kids taken away from me and mutilated.
To be super clear, you are expressing a preference for fascism over the status quo, as you perceive it. Do I have that drive?
Good point. Tyranny is a recurring theme on both the left and right and has been for centuries. But we're talking about the modern manifestation that currently affects our lives. Also, it is undeniable that the left's current philosophy of free speech is consistent with cancel culture, and that philosophy is dominant in universities, despite outliers like Texas A&M. The left is not just engaged in tribal politics but engaged in a philosophical project that openly rejects our founding principles of liberty.
You are correct.
They are overreactions to trends on the left that have been accumulating for years. I still think they are aberrations and will subside when their alarmism does. If not, then we are truly lost.
I think cancel culture is a cancer on our society, whichever side in our political divide engages in it. Is there any sign that either side will stop it if the other does as well? It originated on the left. Who on the left is willing to stop it and have a truce? Is it even possible at this point for the left to backtrack given the left's widespread belief that suppressing speech against leftist ideas is justified?
Group Civil Rights is an abomination regardless of which side is proposing it.