Agreed. Kirk balanced along a very fine line of “just debating” or “expressing opinions” but anyone with half a brain engaged could hear the dog whistles all through his arguments and neither side is as dumb as the media and memes make them out to be. Those whistles are heard loud and clear, it’s why some loved him, and others hated him.
Likewise and with much less nuance, a Fox presenter comments that the mentally ill and/or homeless should euthanized. Then days later a homeless camp is attacked. Wow, what an unlucky coincident?
I wouldn’t want to lose the right to free speech but when it appears to incite violence, I struggle to see how - particularly the Fox presenter scenario - is any different to “shouting fire in a crowded theatre”? Words causing others to take action that lead to the death of innocent people.
HOWEVER, one person’s violence-inspiring words are another person’s Rage Against the Machine or genuine call to action against oppression. Innocent people can and do get caught up in these struggles too.
I don’t have a solution. I have no idea how we fix this without trampling existing freedoms and ruining everything good. All I know is that it’s not an easy solution that some halfwit media personality or politician is going to solve with one easy action.
Agreed. Kirk balanced along a very fine line of “just debating” or “expressing opinions” but anyone with half a brain engaged could hear the dog whistles all through his arguments and neither side is as dumb as the media and memes make them out to be. Those whistles are heard loud and clear, it’s why some loved him, and others hated him.
Likewise and with much less nuance, a Fox presenter comments that the mentally ill and/or homeless should euthanized. Then days later a homeless camp is attacked. Wow, what an unlucky coincident?
I wouldn’t want to lose the right to free speech but when it appears to incite violence, I struggle to see how - particularly the Fox presenter scenario - is any different to “shouting fire in a crowded theatre”? Words causing others to take action that lead to the death of innocent people.
HOWEVER, one person’s violence-inspiring words are another person’s Rage Against the Machine or genuine call to action against oppression. Innocent people can and do get caught up in these struggles too.
I don’t have a solution. I have no idea how we fix this without trampling existing freedoms and ruining everything good. All I know is that it’s not an easy solution that some halfwit media personality or politician is going to solve with one easy action.