Submitted by Charles Knighton
“The running father-daughter feud escalated into a political crisis after the party decision Monday to suspend the senior Le Pen for reiterating anti-Semitic remarks that got him convicted in French courts in the past.” Family feud rocks top of France’s National Front party” – National Post [BU]
Following the horrific attacks at the Charlie Hebdo offices, in which Islamic terrorists executed journalists who published satirical cartoons critical of Islam, the West reacted with a widespread show of solidarity.
The Twitter hashtag, #JeSuisCharlie became the most tweeted of all time and signified that, no matter how one feels about radical Islam, all can agree that speech should be supported and protected. The following “unity rally” in Paris, with almost 4 million people in attendance, and dozens of world leaders marching together, overflowed with messages in support of free speech.
But the uncomfortable sleeper issue few still seem unwilling to discuss is that, for all the images of photogenic Europeans on street corners holding “JeSuisCharlie” signs, or of Angela Merkel and David Cameron huddled together, Europe long ago abandoned any pretence as being a bastion of free speech. This birthplace of the Enlightenment began to allow “progressive” notions of what is acceptable speech to dictate what is permissible speech.
Many, if not most, of the world leaders at that rally’s front lines hailed from nations only too willing to criminalize expression, including the prime minister of Turkey, a nation leading the world in journalist imprisonment. The irony was overwhelming.
And, only a short time later, liberals in the United States were beginning to backpedal, noting civilized speech has “limits” and must be used “responsibly,” somehow failing to realize that placing restrictions on free speech is, well, not free speech at all.
Most of Western Europe is now planted thick with laws restricting all manner of “offensive” speech. Despite David Cameron’s assurances that Britain will never give up on freedom of speech, the United Kingdom boasts the Public Order Act, a dangerous law banning “abusive” speech, which critics say has strangled free speech. In Sweden it is now illegal to criticize illegal immigration, and last year a pastor was imprisoned for one month over a sermon against homosexuality. Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal and yes, France, have alarming laws regulating what can and cannot be uttered.
Thanks to the efforts of politically correct progressives, America is beginning to resemble its European brethren, with college campuses being Ground Zero for the assault on free speech. The foundation for Individual Rights in Education finds that 58 percent of American universities have speech codes prohibiting or penalizing CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED speech.
Perhaps most troubling is an October 2014 poll finding a majority of Democrats support “hate speech” laws. How is it that so many of the same individuals who are so quick to champion the idea of free speech support the ridiculous notion of hate speech?
The West must make up its mind. Either it upholds free speech across the board or it abandons our most fundamental value and capitulates to a pattern of brutal censorship and inconsistent, irrational application. Personally, I find Jean-Marie le Pen’s philosophy vile, but no matter. We either practice #JeSuisCharlie or we do not.
Is the West, is America, is France itself, the land of Voltaire and he who is (although apocryphally) credited as proclaiming: “I disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it” truly willing to stand by this noble ideal? Their words always promise fealty to this ideal, while their actions steadily undermine same.
The blogmaster invites you to join and add value to the discussion.