You can read the following text at the top of this blog: "As long as a society has a true freedom of speech it cannot be completely rotten. However, all totally rotten societies are lacking the true freedom of speech."
This is my own statement on what I consider my most important realization related to the political realm: the lack of freedom of speech has always led to societies that, even with the best intentions, cannot be considered good for their inhabitants. That is why society must allow open discussion, even about unpleasant topics. Unfortunately, I am sorry to note that decision-makers in some of the most important Western societies seem to be forgetting this.
This occurred in the UK following violence during demonstrations against immigration, which has led to life-threatening and sexual violence in the island nation. For example, a new UK law allows the government to fine social media companies if they permit "legal but harmful" content, such as misinformation, to spread.
This also happened in the EU, which attempted to censor an interview with a US Presidential candidate—Donald Trump—on an American platform, namely Elon Musk's X.
Interestingly, Elon Musk replied to the EU's letter with wise words from John F. Kennedy: "In 1946, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution reading in part, ´freedom of information is a fundamental human right, and the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is consecrated.´ This is our touchstone as well. This is the code of the Voice of America. We welcome the views of others. We seek a free flow of information across national boundaries and oceans, across iron curtains and stone walls. We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."
I fully agree, and I will continue to advocate for freedom of speech and a better world on this blog.
Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Relationship Between the Professor and Teemu Selänne
Nightwish and the Disney Company
Ayatollahs in Iran demonstrated their ridiculousness
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