When does “free speech” endanger freedom itself?
Free speech is a gift. A wonderful, beautiful gift. It is an inherent right of the Western mind, and we are blessed with it. Remember, most of the world is not endowed with such rights. They live in areas where free speech will get you killed or jailed.
“Free Speech” also comes with responsibility. And I fear it is that responsibility that is being ignored and pushed to the side.
There are calls to action, names, and epitaphs that enflame the “mob.” They give it strength. And suddenly, what was once speech crosses a line and becomes action.
That is the danger. Not Substack. Not the writer of the original article. The danger lies in the use of the term “Nazi” becoming acceptable. And once that is acceptable and the norm, then the crimes the Nazis committed are no longer so heinous in the mind. Many sick minds can even defend them.
This, and again, my personal opinion is the underlying danger. When does “free speech” endanger freedom itself? Not whether or not Substack does or says anything, not whether the writer is true to his words or just a two-faced, cynical attention-grabber. On that, I could not care less.