Whatever happened to freedom of speech?

By Ivan Morgan

Over 300 years ago the French philosopher Voltaire wrote about the importance of freedom of speech. “I disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it,” he said.

I thought of this quote when I heard of the tragic killing of American conservative pundit Charlie Kirk. I was taught this quote in school. I was taught the importance of free speech in a free and democratic society. Is this still taught to young people?

I don’t care what you thought of Kirk’s politics. If you cheered when you heard he was killed, if you think he got what he deserved, you have some soul searching to do. We need to talk.

And there is the point. We all need to talk to each other. When people stop talking – when they demonize their opponents – we all get into trouble. We need to always talk to each other.

Kirk was killed by an extremist. I am wary of extremists. I have worked for a few people extremely sure of their beliefs. People not interested in debate. People not interested in democracy if the voter disagrees with them. People who “know” they are right and you, if you don’t see things their way, are wrong and possibly evil.
It’s popular these days to talk about left-wing and right-wing extremists. I don’t see the difference. If you are comfortable demonizing those who don’t agree with you, you are a problem. If you believe violence is a good way to get your point across then you are a problem to yourself, and the rest of us.
This isn’t about right or left. This is about right and wrong. This is about humanity. Some people think mine is a simplistic view. They are right – this is simple. You don’t kill people because they disagree with you. Period. You don’t wish for their death. You don’t wish them harm. You talk to them.
Many times in my life, usually by way of insult, people have said Morgan can get along with anyone. I can.
Agree with them? Hell no. But as fellow humans I can talk with them. I can debate with them; I can keep a channel open. That’s what Charlie Kirk tried to do. That’s what he was killed doing.

For those disgusted with what I am saying, understand I am not defending Kirk’s beliefs. I am defending Kirk as a human. I am defending Kirk as a believer in free speech, in dialogue, in debate.

I have heard people say, “Well, what did he expect?” He expected to live to see his children grow up.

There are some serious issues in our collective society right now, issues we are going to have to deal with. My solution?

I think it’s time that the centre, the middle ground, the “normies” like you and me, assert ourselves. Enough of extremes. Enough of being afraid of being shouted down. Enough of crusaders. Enough of being afraid to express an opinion. Enough.

Political comedian Bill Maher spoke of politics in our lifetime – democrats were progressives, with their foot on the gas pedal, conservatives with their foot on the brakes. I have had my foot on the gas pedal all my life. What battles we won (we fought for gay marriage, we fought for stalking laws, to name a few) we won by persuasion. By debate. By the free exchange of ideas. We won because we persuaded the majority of people to agree with us. We did not threaten to cancel people. We did not silence those who disagreed with us. We did not demonize our opponents. We did not celebrate killing. I have been told that speech needs to be restricted nowadays because words can be violence. No. Words are words. Words aren’t violence. Violence is violence.

I have been told Republicans in the United States and Conservatives in Canada are fascists. Killing anyone who disagrees with you, or approving their killing, is the very essence of fascism.

I fear this political divide is growing into a civil war. A civil war which could easily be avoided if people stopped demonizing their opponents and just talked with them. Call me naive but I believe the young man who killed Kirk, had he instead sat and shared a Coke with him, would have found common ground. Instead, many lives have been ruined through senseless, pointless, heartbreaking violence.

What does this all mean for the upcoming elections in our little corner of the world?

Regular readers will know I have little use for most of the contenders in the upcoming provincial election. But when I see what’s happening in the United States, I have to admit they all look pretty good.

Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com