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This right here is yet another example of why freedom of speech is so important and why I am appalled by the tendency of the fediverse to demonize it.
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/02/25/third-of-poland-lgbt-free-zone-atlas-of-hate-homophobia/
Uspol
@freemo I don't want to demonize the concept of freedom of speech in general. It's a good tool. It can be useful.
However, in the current context of American culture, freedom of speech is one of those ideas that nationalists and fascists have latched onto in a bid to further their own violent ends.
Freedom of speech is the cudgel with which they strike at people such as me, confident that liberals will blindly side with them because, after all, freedom of speech is integral to America, right?
Fascists use the freedom of speech that they are afforded to advocate for violence (in the abstract, and with dog whistles) which would ultimately result in those rights being removed from those they perceive as enemies.
(Cont)
Uspol
@freemo on top of that, the idea of "freedom of speech" in the United States, is integral to the cultural identity. However, people don't understand the context for it, that it is a tool to try to achieve greater truths, or for the advancement of discourse. Freedom of speech is seem as an end unto itself, and through its position as a cornerstone of American culture, it is easy for fascists to gain sympathizers by appealing to nationalism.
"These people hate you and me, they want to destroy our way of life, they even hate freedom of speech! They would have it taken away from us!"
But this is another way to gain sympathy from less politically critical people, in appealing to nationalists identity, as well as pre-excuse their actions.
This isn't really a new idea. Germany has strong bans in place against fascistic speech for just this reason. I don't think that German discourse would be enhanced by the decriminalization of fascistic speech.
