Our “first freedom” is first for a reason: it establishes the most basic hierarchy possible. Which is why those who pretend to be against ALL hierarchies, or insist upon instituting only one hierarchy — the precise one among many that suits them especially — oppose free speech so strongly. These days, such folks are apt to insist that “hate speech” (which they and they alone get to define) does not mean “free speech.”
Click on over to Townhall, a real free-speech zone, to read the argument. Then, after reading, come back here to read a bit more:
- Bill Ottman (TNW) — “Research: Restricting free speech isn’t the solution to violence and hate speech”
- Thomas Jefferson (Google Books) — Notes on the State of Virginia (1802), p. 219
- Jordan Peterson (YouTube) — “And then this happened”