At the outset of another crisis in which leaders will ask for emergency power, a collective letter calling for a 21st century free of information control
Matt - yesterday I sent the WD to as many people I care about, and whom just might listen. It was discouraging yesterday to see the blind hatred posted by many here in Racket which I have always considered to be a haven for reason, dialogue, and a little fun. You are a brave soul, and a beacon of hope. Thanks for everything - P
Afaict, the names on the list of signatories that I recognize are already excommunicated from The Orthodox Church of Western Liberal Democracy (i.e. mainstream/establishment/approved/safe). So in this sense the document is like an epistle sent from a gathering in the desert. Is there anyone on that list who's career or social prospects are seriously risked by signing? This is no criticism. I am curious and we can follow what happens next. I really hope this kind of thing helps embolden fence-sitters to take the plunge, leave the church and join us in the rabble.
Without absolute free and uncensored speech, we have nothing. Voltaire said "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it", because he knew -- as hopefully more people will wake up and appreciate before it's too late and they are forced to discover it the hard way -- that once the power to silence is granted, there is nothing preventing that power from one day suddenly being taken away from your preferred group by another, at which point you will find yourself an instant Enemy of the State. NOTHING is more important than totally unrestricted speech. The antidote to bad ideas is better ideas -- not silencing, de-platforming, and de-personing those with whom you may disagree.
Our politicians, Big Tech, Big Finance, Big Education, government bureaucrats, military/industrial complex and the Intelligence community are running scared and fear losing their stranglehold on the system which provides their power and supports their corruption. The red line for any true American should be our Constitution/Bill of Rights. Agree entirely with the Westminster Declaration.
The war on free speech could also be called a war on reality which I think is the true driving force behind the hysterical demand for censorship. Corrupt powers will always crack down on dissent when they feel their power slipping. It perfectly explains the need to silence Assange and others who have pulled back the curtain on government misconduct. “Nothing to see here” is designed to maintain an illusion. More easily done when speech is criminalized.
"We write as journalists, artists, authors, activists, technologists, and academics to warn of increasing international censorship that threatens to erode centuries-old democratic norms."
The argument from authority is such a drag. How about writing as citizens or people?
Too many people, across the entire political spectrum, either did nothing or sang the praises of "hate crime" and "hate speech" legislation when they began to appear as "punitive solutions" all those many years ago, and helped lay the foundation for the CIC we see today. We still see those disgusting terms used to great effect today. It's almost funny seeing them whine about being "censored" or "de-platformed" now, as if the toxic dross would never land on, or harm them. Those of us that spoke out against them back then were labeled as cranks, or worse. It's all too late now; the Two Minutes Hate is now part of our DNA.
This Censorship business is a truly pressing issue, as Western governments/elites in particular are pushing the envelope as far as possible. How can you ban someone from flying a Palestinian flag and still call yourself a "liberal democracy"? This War on Free Speech is also a War on Reason.
Matt - yesterday I sent the WD to as many people I care about, and whom just might listen. It was discouraging yesterday to see the blind hatred posted by many here in Racket which I have always considered to be a haven for reason, dialogue, and a little fun. You are a brave soul, and a beacon of hope. Thanks for everything - P
kind of surprised nobody asked me to sign this because my kids think im a really big deal
Start a campaign with the goal to get 100 million people in the USA to sign this.
Thank you for initiating this, or helping its initiation.
IMHO, that declaration page should have the ability for people of the world to sign on to the same proclamation.
Afaict, the names on the list of signatories that I recognize are already excommunicated from The Orthodox Church of Western Liberal Democracy (i.e. mainstream/establishment/approved/safe). So in this sense the document is like an epistle sent from a gathering in the desert. Is there anyone on that list who's career or social prospects are seriously risked by signing? This is no criticism. I am curious and we can follow what happens next. I really hope this kind of thing helps embolden fence-sitters to take the plunge, leave the church and join us in the rabble.
Don't forget Librarians.
Librarians have a long history of supporting the Freedom to Read.
The Freedom to Read Statement adopted in 1953.
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement
Signatories include:
American Library Association
Association of American Publishers
Subsequently endorsed by:
American Booksellers for Free Expression
The Association of American University Presses
The Children's Book Council
Freedom to Read Foundation
National Association of College Stores
National Coalition Against Censorship
National Council of Teachers of English
The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression
Without absolute free and uncensored speech, we have nothing. Voltaire said "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it", because he knew -- as hopefully more people will wake up and appreciate before it's too late and they are forced to discover it the hard way -- that once the power to silence is granted, there is nothing preventing that power from one day suddenly being taken away from your preferred group by another, at which point you will find yourself an instant Enemy of the State. NOTHING is more important than totally unrestricted speech. The antidote to bad ideas is better ideas -- not silencing, de-platforming, and de-personing those with whom you may disagree.
Our politicians, Big Tech, Big Finance, Big Education, government bureaucrats, military/industrial complex and the Intelligence community are running scared and fear losing their stranglehold on the system which provides their power and supports their corruption. The red line for any true American should be our Constitution/Bill of Rights. Agree entirely with the Westminster Declaration.
Censorship is a crime against humanity. It prevents humanity from learning the truth.
Signed: Lee Trembley, dental lab technician, US.
The war on free speech could also be called a war on reality which I think is the true driving force behind the hysterical demand for censorship. Corrupt powers will always crack down on dissent when they feel their power slipping. It perfectly explains the need to silence Assange and others who have pulled back the curtain on government misconduct. “Nothing to see here” is designed to maintain an illusion. More easily done when speech is criminalized.
Just sent a comment to the WD website. Surely there should be a way for more us to sign!
"We write as journalists, artists, authors, activists, technologists, and academics to warn of increasing international censorship that threatens to erode centuries-old democratic norms."
The argument from authority is such a drag. How about writing as citizens or people?
Too many people, across the entire political spectrum, either did nothing or sang the praises of "hate crime" and "hate speech" legislation when they began to appear as "punitive solutions" all those many years ago, and helped lay the foundation for the CIC we see today. We still see those disgusting terms used to great effect today. It's almost funny seeing them whine about being "censored" or "de-platformed" now, as if the toxic dross would never land on, or harm them. Those of us that spoke out against them back then were labeled as cranks, or worse. It's all too late now; the Two Minutes Hate is now part of our DNA.
This Censorship business is a truly pressing issue, as Western governments/elites in particular are pushing the envelope as far as possible. How can you ban someone from flying a Palestinian flag and still call yourself a "liberal democracy"? This War on Free Speech is also a War on Reason.
I posted the link on X. Maybe some of my 29 followers will repost it. 😏