Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the media has been spewing a lot of poison toward Charlie and Conservatives in general.

But if there can actually be any value in any of their responses, it’s that they now seem to be more open and honest about their hate. Their carefully camouflaged hypocrisy seems to be disappearing.

Which means that their basic message has become more transparent.

That message appears to be the following:

  • People think hateful thoughts.
  • Then they speak their hateful thoughts.
  • Those hateful thoughts are equivalent to violence.
  • Therefore, physical violence is justified in retaliation for those hateful spoken words.

That’s it in a nutshell. Nothing to see here really.

Except a major philosophical and moral leap across the chasm of reason.

How someone can actually believe such a ridiculous thing is not the point here. And yet an increasing number of people say that they do.

People who may also be considering taking action in accordance with that belief. 

People so committed to their beliefs that they feel they have a moral imperative to act in violence against those who speak in a way that they consider “hateful”. 

Based on however they define “hateful” or “hate speech”. 

“Free Speech” Includes a Whole Pile of Stuff Neither of Us May Like 

Right now, the laws upon which our country were founded are at stake. Laws created by adults for adults. In the midst of a very turbulent society that fully understood that free expression was critical for our country to survive. 

Because “free speech” means precisely what it implies.

It means . . . You can say what you think . . . and I can say what I think. 

We do not have to agree. We don’t have to like each other. But we absolutely must remain civil toward each other. 

Unless either you or I have broken an established, clearly defined law forbidding a form of speech that causes physical, dangerous panic or causes someone to believe we are going to harm them physically. 

If I threaten a person with physical harm, I will get a visit from the police. If I say someone should be killed or harmed, then I will get a visit from the police. If I cry “Fire!” in a theatre, when there is no fire, I will get a visit from the law. 

It’s pretty simple really. 

Even Children Know Better 

It all goes back to the old sticks-and-stones proverb.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me.”

OK. Maybe I can be hurt emotionally. And maybe I can get really ticked off and angry. But that is all. 

This is what we were taught as children. Back then, we all understood what this meant and, if we were wise, took it to heart. If we wanted to grow up, we followed this advice. 

But, if someone is some kind of a “snowflake” who lives in a fantasy world where everyone must believe and speak like he or she does, then what can you do with that person? What hope do you have to reason with him?

And what do you do with college kids who demand their “safe spaces”? What planet are they living on? They are in college, for heaven’s sake. Are they not supposed to be the smartest and the brightest among us?

I guess not.  

So, when did we forget all of this? 

When did we stop teaching and following this truth?

And who is out there actually teaching our children to think and to act otherwise?

They are the same ones who are teaching people to commit real, physical violence and who promote physical  intimidation against those who simply want to engage in a free debate in a free society where we have the right of free speech.

The people who are saying otherwise are the ones we should be afraid of. 

Because they are teaching a lie.

And they are fully aware of the fires they are igniting. 

Image by Tylijura from Pixabay