“Free Speech” is not a thing. It’s a cute little idea. But even in the most ideal “Liberal” (capital L) utopia speech will always have restrictions.
It’s like saying “Freedom of Movement” covers your ability to swing your arm around regardless of who’s “face” happens to be in the way.
The lie of “Freedom of Speech” is a privilege of a stable system of governance that is not threatened. Speech is allowed to spread freely and even question those systems as long as those systems are not threatened (Neoliberal capitalism in recent history). But in times of conflict and worsening conditions it will always be used to protect the systems that have power as they become more oppressive.
It is why we use to look down at places like Cuba and scream "they suppress the newspapers!
Yes, they do. Because their system that refuses to allow outside capital to influence their country IS under threat. It’s had a blockade of trade for decades. It’s an actual threat. And so, in the same way, “Free Speech” is suppressed.
Because the idea of free speech is just that, an idea. It’s not something that exists in reality.
“Free Speech” is not a thing. It’s a cute little idea. But even in the most ideal “Liberal” (capital L) utopia speech will always have restrictions.
It’s like saying “Freedom of Movement” covers your ability to swing your arm around regardless of who’s “face” happens to be in the way.
The lie of “Freedom of Speech” is a privilege of a stable system of governance that is not threatened. Speech is allowed to spread freely and even question those systems as long as those systems are not threatened (Neoliberal capitalism in recent history). But in times of conflict and worsening conditions it will always be used to protect the systems that have power as they become more oppressive.
It is why we use to look down at places like Cuba and scream "they suppress the newspapers!
Yes, they do. Because their system that refuses to allow outside capital to influence their country IS under threat. It’s had a blockade of trade for decades. It’s an actual threat. And so, in the same way, “Free Speech” is suppressed.
Because the idea of free speech is just that, an idea. It’s not something that exists in reality.