2 important points most people get wrong about #FreeSpeech:
ONE: In a democracy freedom of speech exists PRECISELY to protect minority opinions.1/4
ONE: In a democracy freedom of speech exists PRECISELY to protect minority opinions.1/4
This is because the opinions of the majority are protected by the vote & the opinions of the rich and powerful are protected by, well, their wealth and power.
(Modern parliamentary gov largely started with kings having to beg the rich & powerful for money!) 2/4
(Modern parliamentary gov largely started with kings having to beg the rich & powerful for money!) 2/4
TWO: The most important book on free speech in history, John Stuart Mill's On Liberty was NOT about primarily about LEGAL restrictions on free speech. He was focused on the crushing SOCIETAL pressure to conform or keep silent. 3/4
If you can get people fired, kicked out of college, fired as a professor, you are NOT powerless. #Freespeech is about fighting power either in the form of government restriction but ALSO the power of societal demands for conformity, which is VERY powerful indeed. 4/4
