Free Speech

After watching a part of the Tucker Carlson interview of the “historian” I probably need to start with taking asprin for the headache of banging my head on the desk, and I want to make a point I’ve made here and elsewhere more than once over the years.

I believe in free speech. Period. That includes speech I don’t like. Tucker’s guest has every right to show his ignorance and worse to the world. Heck, done well having on guests with contrary opinions (to you or to the accepted take) is a great thing. Done wrong, it leaves you looking like an idiot or worse (Candace Tucker)

Now then, that said, keep in mind the First protects you from the government, not your fellow citizens. You have the perfect right to say what you want, you just have no right to demand others pay for or host what you say. Hence, if you come here and spew vileness you will be booted, as thankfully only a couple of people have found out. Say what you want on your own platform, but don’t come here to poop on the carpet and then claim I have to treat it as art.

Further, your right to your own opinion doesn’t protect it (or you) from criticism. In fact, if you subscribe to the marketplace of ideas there is really a requirement to poke, check, and see if the tires come off. If they do, then ridicule, derision, and more can, could, and should be aimed at the opinion.

Good ideas should be praised and refined if needed. Bad ideas deserve to be taken apart, dressed funny, laughed at, and then be tossed in the dust bin of history. It’s a way to learn, and truly smart people learn from the process and grow in positive ways. Those not-so-smart tend to double-down and earn mockery of themselves as well as their ideas. One can only hope they do eventually catch on, change, and grow as a person.

Final thoughts. If you say ‘I believe in free speech, but (except, etc.)…’ then no you really don’t. Your free speech does not extend to the property of others. Vandalize, burn, etc. your things. If you do it to the property of others, including “public” property, then it’s a crime and you should be prosecuted (and I really don’t have a lot of problems if your fellow citizens express their thoughts upon your person if you do such or curtail their rights).

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