I was talking to someone the other day about our current state of affairs. We were specifically speaking about the internet and social media. He was surprised that I would support the banning of some content on social media platforms. He felt that was an infringement on free speech. It is a question for all free societies. I think part of the answer lies in the line between my freedom and yours. Yes, we have the right to speak out minds. But what happens when that speech endangers others?
Any number of fringe groups have existed for years in our country. When I say “fringe” I mean groups who espouse beliefs that most people would find extreme or out of the mainstream of thought. With good reason. But in the age of the internet and social media these groups have found a forum to reach millions of people who would normally not even be aware of their existence. It is something that has exacerbated our divisions and encouraged violence in our cities.
You saw it with QAnon, which led to a man bringing a weapon to a pizza restaurant in the belief that a pedophile ring was operated out of it's basement. A ring run by Hillary Clinton no less. Most people would understand how ridiculous this idea was, but not this man. He believed it and he endangered all of the innocent people within that establishment when he fired his gun. Do I believe that “Q” and those who follow his/her “bread crumbs” have the right to spout nonsense that endangers others? No, I do not. Words can be just as powerful as a gun. Because they can move people to action. We who live in a free society also have a responsibility to respect the rights of others, to take care to act within the laws of our country.
Which brings me to Boogaloo Bois. “Boogaloo” is the term these people use for civil war. They are a loose group of people who seem to have an ax to grind with any form of government. They seem to have played a role in the unrest that arose in Minneapolis after the George Floyd killing by Minneapolis police and the attempted kidnapping of the Governor of Michigan.
They also have shown they have no problem working with a terrorist organization, Hamas. So do I think letting people like that have a forum to spread their hate, lies and violence is responsible free speech? No, not so much.
Last but not least there is also the question of who these people really are. There are those who would be quite happy to sow discord in our country in order to gain an advantage over us.
