Very true. Glenn Greenwald makes a similar point about MSM news programs: they do things like "report" that the Hunter Biden laptop was fake, then never issue a retraction after it's conclusively proven to be authentic, because their viewers value the fake narrative more than the unpleasant truth. It's irritating to have to take the high road in response, and (in most cases) not try to criminalize their constant lying, especially when they don't return the favor if they think we're spreading "disinformation", but in the end we have to trust that truth will win over falsehood when the two stand side by side.
Thx Barry for pulling all this together. It makes it easier for me to share with loved ones. I have been doing extensive research on my “high cholesterol” for a few years now. After cutting much out of my life, including losing weight, exercising, diet, etc; my cholesterol remains slightly high (as it has for the last 25+ years). Mercola’s work has helped me understand how genetics can play a role in this, and the dangers of statins. So very cool for me to be able to feast on this information and so much more in my favorite reading chair.
The most recent MN legislature has passed a law to “… track hate” in our lovely state (https://www.kare11.com/article/news/politics/minn-lawmakers-want-to-track-racial-incidents/89-546d6382-1695-4ef2-8355-5e01887c2d99). This means that somehow, someway, some board or somebody must judge what hate is. Then a database shall be maintained that logs the perpetrator. I can’t even begin to imagine what this could and would lead to. Know that other articles have indicated that somebody will be looking at social media posts and judging whether those are considered a “hate post“ or similar. I’ll stop right there and let your mind wrestle with this a bit.
I think The Powers That Be realised some time ago that technology has reached a point where a soft totalitarianism backed by global governance is finally possible. Information flow can be controlled, money and people tracked, and massive profits raised from a serf population all with very little effort. Now they just need to get the last tricky 20% to comply. They will not succeed.
Your willingness to engage and keep the dialogue going is a great strength; you consistently display that.
And I've boxed myself into a corner and will try and free myself from that box.
As trite as it may sound, I, too, am an absolutist.
My absolutist stand is for kindness, understanding, wisdom and common sense. And what I mean by those four words follows.
But first, the truth of the matter – of freedom of speech - escapes me. I don't know.
How I approach what I don't know is summarised here:
Kindness: Our unconditional and heartfelt goodwill and gentleness towards all forms of life become who we are – rather than who we would like to be.
Our respect for our fellow humans, all other sentient creatures, all flora, waterways, oceans, the air we breathe, and the earth we till, mine, build on and pave over are unconditional.
Understanding: Our openness of mind and heart to all that is familiar and foreign to us expands to be all-inclusive.
We look at every idea, principle, fact and piece of information openheartedly, freed from belief, opinion, judgment and prior knowledge.
We look at everyone and everything from that state of genuine understanding – to neither agree nor disagree but to understand the other's reality.
Wisdom: We see the world through our existing knowledge but with the heartfelt kindness and understanding described above. And with the genuine common sense described hereunder.
It is a state of mind where we stand for 'the common good' as best we can see to do in any given moment.
Common sense: This quality does not diminish or negate the power of the preceding three innate human qualities. Like wisdom, our heart-connected common sense keeps us grounded in our kindness while understanding our own and humankind's failings.
That enables me to listen to, read and engage with any 'speech' and not react but instead, like you, to do my best to understand what the other means and what they want from life.
At this point in our evolution, we are very reactive beings and, again, my 'dilemma' regarding using hate speech.
But Barry, if push comes to shove, I'd take any speech over violence.
But so often, one leads to the other. Again, my dilemma.
Thank you, John. I don't think we can reach the state you eloquently present without freedom of speech. Our darkness must be exposed before we reach the light. In other words, we don't reach a state of kindness until we see how unkind and even vicious we can be and decide we have had enough. Our errors can only be exposed in the course of an uncoerced social process.
A very thoughtful and insightful couple of essays.
A reader made a comment that asserts "freedom is the cost we must pay and the effort we must expend to be part of a living, breathing democracy." I respectfully take a very different view on the subjects of freedom and our inspired system of government.
First, our political system is not a democracy, even though, many have falsely believed it to be so. America was established as a representative or constitutional republic. Democracies always implode, and they are a step along the path to governmental tyranny. Our founders knew that, and they purposefully avoided giving us a democracy.
Secondly, being part of any political system, be it democracy, a republic or any other, should not be the end goal that drives our thoughts, actions and institutions. Sacred freedom should be among our end goals in life. Our political system is a means to that end, not the other way around.
Third, freedom is not a cost and, in and of itself, it is not an effort. Freedom is the reward that flows from our energies being devoted to its prevalence and preservation. As we use the freedoms we already have wisely by gaining knowledge and exercising wisdom therewith, we gain more and more freedom. Neither do we have to sacrifice freedom in order to be happy. Rather, to be truly free, we only need to learn what provides us more freedom and wisely pursue those activities while abstaining from the activities that quash it.
Finally, it is the duty of every free person to help perpetuate and multiply freedom by imparting the principles and actions that enable it to neighbors and the next generation. And that is why I appreciate your essays, Barry. You're doing just that. Please continue humbly imparting your knowledge and wisdom. Surely your efforts are making a positive difference in the world.
Yes it did. Along with up to birth abortion (3rd to China and North Korea), children sheltered from parents for alleged “sex changes,” tampon machines in K-12 boys bathrooms, and so very much more…
Very true. Glenn Greenwald makes a similar point about MSM news programs: they do things like "report" that the Hunter Biden laptop was fake, then never issue a retraction after it's conclusively proven to be authentic, because their viewers value the fake narrative more than the unpleasant truth. It's irritating to have to take the high road in response, and (in most cases) not try to criminalize their constant lying, especially when they don't return the favor if they think we're spreading "disinformation", but in the end we have to trust that truth will win over falsehood when the two stand side by side.
JdL, Yes, eventually Reality wins but in the meantime the suffering can be immense.
Thx Barry for pulling all this together. It makes it easier for me to share with loved ones. I have been doing extensive research on my “high cholesterol” for a few years now. After cutting much out of my life, including losing weight, exercising, diet, etc; my cholesterol remains slightly high (as it has for the last 25+ years). Mercola’s work has helped me understand how genetics can play a role in this, and the dangers of statins. So very cool for me to be able to feast on this information and so much more in my favorite reading chair.
The most recent MN legislature has passed a law to “… track hate” in our lovely state (https://www.kare11.com/article/news/politics/minn-lawmakers-want-to-track-racial-incidents/89-546d6382-1695-4ef2-8355-5e01887c2d99). This means that somehow, someway, some board or somebody must judge what hate is. Then a database shall be maintained that logs the perpetrator. I can’t even begin to imagine what this could and would lead to. Know that other articles have indicated that somebody will be looking at social media posts and judging whether those are considered a “hate post“ or similar. I’ll stop right there and let your mind wrestle with this a bit.
Peace and blessings my friend!
Thank you, Chris.
I've heard of the alarming MN law. Has it passed?
I think The Powers That Be realised some time ago that technology has reached a point where a soft totalitarianism backed by global governance is finally possible. Information flow can be controlled, money and people tracked, and massive profits raised from a serf population all with very little effort. Now they just need to get the last tricky 20% to comply. They will not succeed.
Let's work to grow the 20% to 40% or more!
Thank you, Barry.
My dilemma is this.
On the one hand, without a right to free speech, we ultimately become slaves to the beliefs, opinions, judgements and knowledge of the most powerful.
Conversely, speech that is crude, racist, homophobic and contains deliberate lies fosters hate and takes us down the slippery slope to barbarism.
And a world of ‘political correctness’ is not what I advocate.
My dilemma is how we sustain freedom of speech without the cruelty that the liberty of expressed hatred cultivates.
Living a life of kindness, understanding, wisdom, and common sense seems out of reach at this point in our evolution as a species.
Warmly … John
Thanks for your elaboration, John.
I think you and I would agree on what are lies and racist speech etc. but many would not and that is the issue.
Much of what I wrote about COVID, for example, would have been called lies by government. Arguing for freedom is called racist by some.
And that's why I am an absolutist about freedom of speech.
Thank you again, Barry.
Your willingness to engage and keep the dialogue going is a great strength; you consistently display that.
And I've boxed myself into a corner and will try and free myself from that box.
As trite as it may sound, I, too, am an absolutist.
My absolutist stand is for kindness, understanding, wisdom and common sense. And what I mean by those four words follows.
But first, the truth of the matter – of freedom of speech - escapes me. I don't know.
How I approach what I don't know is summarised here:
Kindness: Our unconditional and heartfelt goodwill and gentleness towards all forms of life become who we are – rather than who we would like to be.
Our respect for our fellow humans, all other sentient creatures, all flora, waterways, oceans, the air we breathe, and the earth we till, mine, build on and pave over are unconditional.
Understanding: Our openness of mind and heart to all that is familiar and foreign to us expands to be all-inclusive.
We look at every idea, principle, fact and piece of information openheartedly, freed from belief, opinion, judgment and prior knowledge.
We look at everyone and everything from that state of genuine understanding – to neither agree nor disagree but to understand the other's reality.
Wisdom: We see the world through our existing knowledge but with the heartfelt kindness and understanding described above. And with the genuine common sense described hereunder.
It is a state of mind where we stand for 'the common good' as best we can see to do in any given moment.
Common sense: This quality does not diminish or negate the power of the preceding three innate human qualities. Like wisdom, our heart-connected common sense keeps us grounded in our kindness while understanding our own and humankind's failings.
That enables me to listen to, read and engage with any 'speech' and not react but instead, like you, to do my best to understand what the other means and what they want from life.
At this point in our evolution, we are very reactive beings and, again, my 'dilemma' regarding using hate speech.
But Barry, if push comes to shove, I'd take any speech over violence.
But so often, one leads to the other. Again, my dilemma.
Warmly … John
Thank you, John. I don't think we can reach the state you eloquently present without freedom of speech. Our darkness must be exposed before we reach the light. In other words, we don't reach a state of kindness until we see how unkind and even vicious we can be and decide we have had enough. Our errors can only be exposed in the course of an uncoerced social process.
You may be correct Barry. I don't know!
What I do know, is that I'm grateful for our 'uncoerced social process'.
Love ... John
Thank you, Barry.
A very thoughtful and insightful couple of essays.
A reader made a comment that asserts "freedom is the cost we must pay and the effort we must expend to be part of a living, breathing democracy." I respectfully take a very different view on the subjects of freedom and our inspired system of government.
First, our political system is not a democracy, even though, many have falsely believed it to be so. America was established as a representative or constitutional republic. Democracies always implode, and they are a step along the path to governmental tyranny. Our founders knew that, and they purposefully avoided giving us a democracy.
Secondly, being part of any political system, be it democracy, a republic or any other, should not be the end goal that drives our thoughts, actions and institutions. Sacred freedom should be among our end goals in life. Our political system is a means to that end, not the other way around.
Third, freedom is not a cost and, in and of itself, it is not an effort. Freedom is the reward that flows from our energies being devoted to its prevalence and preservation. As we use the freedoms we already have wisely by gaining knowledge and exercising wisdom therewith, we gain more and more freedom. Neither do we have to sacrifice freedom in order to be happy. Rather, to be truly free, we only need to learn what provides us more freedom and wisely pursue those activities while abstaining from the activities that quash it.
Finally, it is the duty of every free person to help perpetuate and multiply freedom by imparting the principles and actions that enable it to neighbors and the next generation. And that is why I appreciate your essays, Barry. You're doing just that. Please continue humbly imparting your knowledge and wisdom. Surely your efforts are making a positive difference in the world.
Thanks for the very kind note, Darren.
And thanks for sharing your beautifully expressed wisdom about freedom!
Powerful Barry.
Our freedom of thought is one thing. Its expression is tricky - a real-life conundrum.
Without it, we voluntarily enslave ourselves. With it, we must face all that we don't like or agree with - even hate.
And some things said are untrue, deliberately deceitful and dangerous.
What a dilemma!
Our freedom is the cost we must pay and the effort we must expend to be a part of a living, breathing democracy.
Warmly ... John
Thanks for the kind note, John.
Can you explain more about the dilemma you see?
Here is an 2016 defense of hate speech I wrote: https://intellectualtakeout.org/2016/11/twitter-doesnt-realize-that-protecting-hate-speech-promotes-tolerance/
Yes it did. Along with up to birth abortion (3rd to China and North Korea), children sheltered from parents for alleged “sex changes,” tampon machines in K-12 boys bathrooms, and so very much more…
Wow!
Hi Barry
You wrote: "liberty lovers extend the warm hands of their common humanity to all."
I, as a liberty lover do not....nuke 'em all, let the adversary sort 'em out.....
Thank you for this essay.
Thanks, Doc.
Yes, they have done terrible damage but one day they will awake to Reality and we must be ready to welcome them back.