Joyce Carol Oates has much to say about the current two-minutes hate directed at Oceania’s enemy, Emmanuel Goldstein — pardon, Donald Sterling:
Nostalgia for time when one could say anything in private no matter how stupid, cruel, self-serving or plain wrong & not be criminalized.
“Self-righteousness is the collateral damage virtue must risk in stamping out vice.” Le Roquefortchaud
Slurs “Commie” & “pinko” in 1950s — slurs of “racist” in our era — casually uttered, to denigrate another who differs from you even mildly.
Is there a federal law providing “expectation of privacy” in personal situations, or is it a state law? Or is it even a law? Am I dreaming?
As lawyers advise, “Never put anything in writing,” soon the admonition will be: “Never put anything in words that might be recorded.”
Only stand-up comedians & clearly designated satirists are allowed an almost total freedom of speech today in US. (Note “almost.”)
Many who frequently speak in public have begun to speak much more circumspectly than we once did, for fear of being quoted out of context.
Would, or could, ACLU today defend Nazi’s right (or “right”) to march through Skokie, Illinois? Real test of principle vs. extreme backlash.
Tragic pessimist George Orwell could not have foreseen that individuals would give up their freedom to be punitive Big Brother themselves.
In 2039 murmuring something “critical” about the President may result in a fleet of drones sent in your direction. “Wait–just kidding!”
If one individual is so vilified for making private statements, one day you may not dare say anything “critical” about the President.
Why do so many people confuse an individual case (agreed, despicable) with a principle? “Free speech” — “free press” — US Constitution.
In US law, no one is “indefensible.” If prosecution does not need to prove a case, we are all susceptible to false accusations, arrest.
Many, perhaps most, US citizens now seem to believe that to defend just the principle of “free speech” is to defend a particular individual.
Many, perhaps most, US citizens now seem to believe that you can/ should be punished for what you say even in private. Repercussions?
This era of ever-vigilant social media & NSA surveillance may one day be seen as the end of “free speech” in America. Happened so quickly.
Am I the only person in US surprised that a private conversation (no matter how ugly) can be the basis for such public recrimination?
Nostalgia for time when one could say anything in private no matter how stupid, cruel, self-serving or plain wrong & not be criminalized.
My god, a grownup. I didn’t know they still had those.