“A man’s right to speak does not depend upon where he was born or upon his color. The simple quality of manhood is the solid basis of the right – and there let it rest forever.” - Frederick Douglass (1860)
Historian John Fea today covers the kerfuffle over David French’s column on free speech. The big scandal is that Barack Obama cited it and recommended it on social media. Theobros and Christian nationalists have gone wild over Obama’s recommendation and have lined up to shower David with even more of the Christian love for which they have become known. Many of them have turned scorn and ridicule into an ungodly art form. Fea has a whole gallery on display if you are interested in that sort of thing.
I lead with the Douglass quote because Obama cited it in his remarks on free speech and because it simply states the truth. I hope it goes without saying the principle applies to all, men and women, but I will say it anyway. The US has a history of sticking up for free speech and trying to suppress it. No need to try to whitewash it. Totalitarians and people who want to deprive others of their rights also want to quash ideas which contradict them. Those who support totalitarians, such as French’s and Obama’s critics, chime in to undermine our freedoms. Of course, this is shortsighted, because they are undermining their own freedoms as well.
We must not forget what those freedoms are.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
These are civil rights that all citizens have, not just supporters of President Trump. It is incredible that this needs to be said. About television networks, Trump said, “They give me only bad press. I mean they’re getting a license. I would think maybe their licenses should be taken away.” The Sedition Act was repealed a long time ago, but in effect the removal of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s program on ABC gestures toward government control and censorship of the media. This is not the American way.
I say three cheers for David French and Barack Obama, and many others who are sticking up for free speech. It is encouraging to see many people who hold many different beliefs doing so.
It might not be popular to say, but I think we were better off being woke, as in aware of the situation. Rights and freedoms are being eroded all around us. Being aware isn’t a bad thing. Consider the alternative.
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From June: The Vanguard of American Fascism.
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Yes—to be awake has always meant to see clearly, to refuse blindness when the world’s suffering or deceit would lull us back to sleep. In the Christian story, “woke” isn’t an insult; it’s conversion—regaining sight. When rights are eroded or voices silenced, what’s really at stake is our capacity to recognize the image of God in those whose speech we find inconvenient.
The work now is not only to defend free speech but to deepen our seeing—so that awareness becomes a form of love, not just resistance.
But today 60-100 thousand or more people attended the abomination of a political rally masquerading as memorial service. They were there to worship a completely false set of idols who spewed forth hatred towards half of the country.