Terror Is the Enemy of Free Speech

Even writers can become complacent about free speech. We take it for granted because it’s something we’ve always had. But the truth is, freedom of speech is unusual. Throughout most of human history, it’s not a right that most populations have possessed.It’s important to be deliberate in our ability to express ourselves. We can’t be delusional about insisting we still have freedoms we’ve already lost. It’s easier to go through life within a bubble of denial than it is to recognize the flaws of our society.The truth is that for every action that’s performed to liberate humanity, there’s an equal and opposite action deployed to restrict our freedoms. These contrary forces battle in perpetuity. The moment we believe the war is won we have effectively surrendered to oppression.When a writer speaks truth to power, it can be a jarring moment to observe. But it can also be a moment of awakening. Human beings have a fundamental need to express themselves. If you restrict your own language due to fear, you’re likely not living in the paradise you imagined.We restrict our speech all the timeIt doesn’t take too much exploration of your own past to uncover moments of self-censorship. We don’t see these scenarios as surrendering our freedom, and instead justify them as both practical and necessary.It’s a slippery slope.We’ve all had to face a bully. We have at least one memory of suppressing the urge to tell the bully what we thought of him in favor of our sense of self-preservation.When you stop and reflect, you’ll discover moments like this sprinkled throughout your life. We choose not to speak truthfully to our boss, or parents. We hide our thoughts from our pastor, our teachers, and our friends.In all these instances there is a thread of commonality. We go mute in the presence of power. The more there is a power discrepancy, the less likely we are to say what we actually think.This dynamic never goes away. There is always a push and pull between saying what needs to be said and fearing the consequences.The perpetual conflictTo this day, there are articles I write that make me reluctant to hit “publish.” I feel a little shiver of fear, but usually manage to push through. In almost every instance, these are the articles that most need to be shared.An unfortunate reality of this earthly existence is that human beings face constant pressure to bow to the will of authority.The problem is that authority is not always right.Another perpetual conflict dynamic is that the better a person is, the less that person is inclined to accumulate power. Responsible people don’t want power because they perceive the potential for harm. Thus, we are condemned to be ruled by the very individuals who are least qualified to do the job.Ego, arrogance, and entitlement provide the seasoning that determines the unique flavor of abuse that we are served. Accountability would cancel our distress the same way dairy products cancel spice, but that’s not even offered.Accountability is undervaluedCollectively as a culture, we tend to celebrate people who appear to have achieved great things. Perhaps we should consider making a pivot. Consider the benefits of reserving our greatest celebrations for the people who acknowledge they’ve made an error.There’s an ugly thing that happens when errors are allowed to go uncorrected. They begin to gather force and become more powerful. Sooner or later, uncorrected errors begin to have a devastating impact on the real world.This brings me back to the essential conflict of self-preservation versus the danger of speaking your mind. It’s only when we perceive that the consequences of not speaking truth represents a greater danger than the immediate response that we can find the courage to overcome our fear.Still, not everyone does. It’s the same as accountability. Speaking truth to power is undervalued. Often, it’s even denounced as “rude” or “disrespectful.”The terrible consequence of silenceWe have an obligation to speak out the moment we recognize that the bad decisions of powerful people have snowballed to the point where they’re inflicting pain on the innocent. We have to speak this truth despite knowing that it will be felt as a pinch upon the ego of power.It’s a terrifying moment because we’re caught between the ever present void of threat and the slowly encroaching void of malpractice. The temptation is to say nothing and hope the situation gets resolved on its own, or that the eye of punishment finds a distraction.We have to first appeal to the reason of power. We have to compel it to do the right thing for the sake of society. But when you’re fearful of a government and the people who run it, the chorus of course correction goes quiet. Without guardrails we collectively accelerate towards our own destruction.Government censorshipWe’ve entered into a period of history where there are more frequent consequences for speaking truth to power. Shows have been canceled. Lawsuits have been filed. These actions change how various narratives are presented in the media. A form of self-imposed censorship has settled upon our society out of fear.What we’re seeing today is a conformity of thought that lacks the diversity necessary to signal upcoming dangers. The watchman standing on the bow looking for icebergs has been deprived of his binoculars.It’s a scary time because a lot of established media is failing to meet the moment. They’re intentionally making the choice to put themselves out of harm’s way. But they’re so fixated on the wrath of the Captain that they’re overlooking the danger of the iceberg.That brings us to ‘South Park’The most recent exception to this overall disturbing trend is the heroic first episode of the 27th season of South Park. It was refreshing to see a strong defense of the First Amendment within the context of a satirical perspective on the current presidency.Some critics have gotten into the habit of dismissing South Park as a vulgar show. But for as long as the show has been on the air, I’ve always felt that “vulgar” isn’t the appropriate term.A better way to describe South Park is truthful. It doesn’t pull any punches. It’s doesn’t succumb to any sanitized narrative and instead leans into the absurd contradictions that are always present in any society. South Park is also fair. It applies its mockery universally. It speaks truth to power brilliantly and unflinchingly.I would argue that South Park isn’t vulgar. The world is vulgar and all South Park does is unflinchingly hold up a mirror. This form of unvarnished truth should be celebrated.Accountability is the distant cousin of truthIt’s easy and sometimes even prudent to put your head in the sand and practice denial. But when you do, you blind yourself to the suffering of people all around you. This is irresponsible in all cases, and unconscionable when you have the power to help.Any nation occasionally faces a moment when the population is compelled to pull off their collective blinders and perceive the harsh realities of our time. The dangers we face aren’t pretty, but if you ignore them they only get worse.Truth doesn’t become any less valid because it’s told in the form of humor. The world is often so absurd that we have to rely on the pressure valve of laughter to protect us from the pain.One of the enduring truths of the human experience is that every freedom is always under attack. This includes freedom of thought, freedom of action, and freedom of personal identity. We surrender inconsequential battles in this ongoing war all the time, but every now and then we have to gauge the cumulative effect and make an appropriate risk assessment.History is kind to those who speak the truthFreedom is an unalienable right, but any right can be restricted by an authoritarian movement. When our nonaction permits the loss of those rights either for ourselves or for distant, vulnerable populations, we find ourselves in the role of enablers. This has been said over and over again, but the message bears repeating.The human race always needs brave souls who are willing to take the target off the backs of the vulnerable and place it upon their own.For that reason, I applaud the season 27 premier of South Park. Some people look at that show and dismiss it as a cartoon about foul-mouthed little kids. But the last episode sincerely brought tears to my eyes because I see it as an act of extreme bravery and a defense of our fundamental freedoms.History fondly remembers the heroes who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to protect those that lack the power and resources to defend themselves. Speaking truth to power, is one of the most powerful tools of decency.We remain silent to protect what we have. But what we have loses value when we’re forced to live a lie.You all make this newsletter happen! Thanks for your sponsorship! I have payment tiers starting at as little as twenty dollars a year.Upgrade at 30% offUpgrade at 40% offUpgrade at 50% offUpgrade at 60% offI'm so happy you're here, and I'm looking forward to sharing more thoughts with you tomorrow.My CoSchedule referral linkHere’s my referral link to my preferred headline analyzer tool. If you sign up through this, it’s another way to support this newsletter (thank you).I'd Rather Be Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to I'd Rather Be Writing at walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe