George Rebane
[This post invites the continuation of the lively comment thread on the expression/suppression of ideas that started in the 10aug17 Sandbox.]
So what happened yesterday in Charlottesville? We know that a coalition of white supremacists got a permit to demonstrate against the relocation of a Confederate statue, and that leftwing counter demonstrators showed up to protest the protest. Violence ensued – instigation unknown, results tragic. Megaphones from all sides have now blared into action. From the Left and lamestream, the answer to all questions is again unimaginably simple – it was once more the fault of the ‘rightwing racists’ who were egged on by Trump.
And the remedy for it all is even simpler – use government force to deny those deemed racist, nationalist, etc the right to demonstrate in public forums. Even such good Christians such as Dean Ashford at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (here) and rightwing national commentator Erick Erickson (here) promote such a response to outlier thought and speech.
Before any left-leaning readers get their undies in a bundle, let’s first dispose of the race issue – RR, nor any of its readers to my knowledge, espouse the notion that one race or another is superior. Counter arguments to this – such as ‘yes, but we know what you really think’ – have been made by leftwingers with bankrupt debating skills, and, no doubt, will be made by them again. However, RR has strongly argued that cultures are not only different, but also of varying nature as to the quality of life they have provided and continue to provide for their adherents.
As stated here many times – I am a child, student, and defender of Western culture. Western culture is not static, and has benefited greatly through its liberal mien, over the years by adopting ‘best practices’ from other cultures with which it has come into contact. And I also believe that people all over the world, who have adopted major tenets of western culture, to that extent they have benefited and enriched their lives. But today Western culture is suffering a purposed collapse, and the reactionary white supremacists are abetting this downward spiral. Erickson’s wider appraisal is here germane –
The regressive ideas of the white supremacists in Charlottesville have no place in America any more than the censorious totalitarianism on display last week at Google. They are all from the same strain of secular uncertainty rising as Western cultural certainties collapse.
But to be productive, these debates/discussions should attempt to achieve a common understanding of what ideas can be professed, and by whom in public forums (which include the online media) and in the workplace. To me the First Amendment prohibits the suppression of free speech, especially ‘speech’ deemed unpopular, by the government AND by citizens who are offended by such speech – that is simply the cost of doing the business of maintaining our American republic.
It is through the open competition of ideas that western culture flowered and continues to increase our enlightenment, and the enlightenment of all societies. And it is through the suppression of peaceful competition of all kinds – including in the arena of ideas – that will sound the death knell of western culture. (more later)
[update] Well, this little missive has drawn a bit of ire from our neighbors on our left. I received an email quoting one of their leading intellectual lights demonstrating his knowledge of American history by taking to task the content of my opening paragraphs. Thereof he claims that I have written “a bunch of alt-right revisionist, great divide driving, bastardization of American history.” Fortunately, for the sake of expediency, the depth of his reasoning is both flawed and shallow. Starting with the name of the 1860-65 conflict, the man has little knowledge of the century plus debate in the learned circles of our academe about the true nature of what the various factions of the South and North sought to achieve. Here is a reference from Wikipedia citing the legion of authors who have discussed and debated the affair. Given his age and many responsibilities, I really don’t know how to advise the man about remediating his education, especially concerning his views about the bastardization of American history.
[14aug17 update] ‘Why were the police held back in Chalottesville?’ is being asked by people concerned about the conduct of the authorities during last weekend’s demonstrations. Actually, there is a large faction in the country that is not asking, does not want to know, and/or already knows. The answer to the question is not all that hard to puzzle out – just think about who benefitted from the police being ordered to stand down to let the counter demonstrators confront the white nationalist demonstrators. When this Virginia town’s response is compared to what has happened in other towns like Berkeley, it is clear that Democrat authorities are now basing their use of police intervention on first satisfying their political agendas. Strongly invite evidence to the contrary.
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