Thread by @TwisterFilm

1./ How important is Free Speech? It's an obvious question as we drift towards the signing of the new Hate Crime Bill in Scotland. In their letter today to @heraldscotland @mbmpolicy suggest if you don't think this law is dangerous you haven't been paying attention. 👇

https://twitter.com/mbmpolicy/status/1378750162433097728

2./ As they argue "Intention to use the legislation to inhibit debate ...is already evident." Apparently an SNP researcher in response to a reference to @ALLIANCELGB hoped the Act "will do some work to limit the activities of these hate groups". An aberration? What do you think?

3./ The last year has seen bizarre petitions, blatant lies and hysterical campaigns of slander by second rate politicians and third rate actors. These suggest the regiment of deluded gender woo hoo will jump at the chance this new law affords them. What should we do in response?

4./ By complete coincidence today I watched a fantastic movie that reminds us all of our responsibility to defend free speech; 'Mientras Dure La Guerra' by the great Chilean-Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar. hollywoodreporter.com/review/at-war-…

5./ It tells the story of the greatest speech of the Spanish Civil War, by the writer Miguel Unamuno. A Republican, he denounced the left and was embraced by the Francoists, before he realised his terrible mistake. This is his statue in Salamanca, his beautiful home city.👇

6./ Soon the Francoists forced him to parrot the party line. Brutal regimes who ban free speech always roll out a sob story. Franco claimed the left were destroying civilisation, poisoning minds and murdering nuns. Anyone who didn't sign up to his side was therefore "hateful".

7./ It's an old trick to project your hate on to your opponents. Unamuno's friends were murdered before he finally clocked Franco was the real danger. Invited to make a speech in front of the Franco top brass he decided he could no longer stay silent. 👇

8./ So enjoy this brilliant cinematic moment, as Unamuno (Karre Elejalde) rails against the violent, racist cult of the Falangists. The lesson? The truth must be spoken, and damn the consequences (and those trying to silence the truth). 👇

9./ Unamuno was a flawed genius but his most famous quote could be a rallying cry for those who refuse to go along with the diktats of woke bullies. "At times to be silent is to lie. For silence can be interpreted as assent." No silence. No lies. No assent.