We really are at an inflection point in the fight for Western Civilization.
I know that sounds extreme, even absurd, to many people. But it really isn't. Across the Western world, nominally liberal democracies are cracking down on dissent in an unprecedented manner, rivaling and exceeding wartime restrictions that are considered some of the darker moments of our history.
During World War I, there were political prisoners in the United States; during World War II, we interned Japanese citizens, which, while unforgivable, was at least understandable as a precaution against actual sabotage of wartime production. In both cases we look back with shame to the extremities to which we went out of panic.
— Figgy Biscuits (@FiggyBiscuits) September 12, 2024
In the 21st century, though, people are going to jail for posting memes, watching or recording protests, and using the wrong pronouns. A protester in Great Britain was arrested for holding a sign that said "Hamas Are Terrorists," which is literally the stance that the UK government takes, listing the group as a terrorist organization.
A new law in Scotland threatens you with seven years in JAIL if you misgender someone.
— John Stossel (@JohnStossel) September 7, 2024
GLAD @jk_rowling calls this a threat to free speech.
Here is how she protested: pic.twitter.com/hIbZby4OVX
People get arrested for praying in public in Great Britain, although that is only true if you are Christian. The police stop traffic for Muslims praying in the streets.
"The terms misinformation and disinformation are being weaponised to justify partisan censorship" https://t.co/2zzpJJ1WU4
— Molly Kingsley (@lensiseethrough) September 12, 2024
British law enforcement officials have threatened to extradite Americans for their speech in America, to which I say "we kicked your ass out of here for much less, Limeys."
Brazil’s youngest and most voted Member of Parliament @nikolas_dm sending out a message in English for the world at today’s demonstration against the decision by the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) & Justice Alexandre de Moraes of banning X in Brazil.
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 7, 2024
He says he won’t stop using X https://t.co/vDAUe0fdAJ
The European Union threatened Elon Musk with sanctions for platforming Donald Trump--seriously--and Brazil cut off access to Twitter/X for all Brazilian citizens because Musk wouldn't censor Brazilians, including elected officials.
NEWS: Australia wants to fine internet platforms up to 5% of their global revenue for failing to prevent the spread of so-called misinformation online.
— ALEX (@ajtourville) September 12, 2024
Opposition James Paterson said: “Australians' legitimately-held political beliefs should not be censored by either the… pic.twitter.com/SUcjBKtzYk
Australia is considering a bill to mirror the EU's censorship regime under the guise of combating "disinformation."
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
— James Melville 🚜 (@JamesMelville) September 5, 2024
~ George Washington
But it appears that Kamala Harris wants to pick and choose who has freedom of speech in the ‘land of the free’. pic.twitter.com/jXcrxqWQzk
Kamala: I will direct the DOJ to censor "misinformation and hate" online
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 5, 2024
pic.twitter.com/EmH6MKaV1d
It's not an exaggeration to say all this is coming to America. Much of it is already here, but for the jailing for speech. That is coming soon enough, as both Tim Walz and Kamala Harris are pretty explicit about their intentions, and Kamala Harris' top candidate for Attorney General thanked Brazil for banning Twitter/X.
Yes, really. He did.
Minnesota's Attorney General opposes the first amendment? https://t.co/EaqOBKnUR4
— Bill Glahn (@billglahn) September 2, 2024
Now there are increasing calls for Elon Musk to get arrested, literally on any pretext. That is not an exaggeration. Respected members of the academic, political, and financial industries have each called for Musk to be arrested due his allowing free speech on Twitter.
Robert Reich has declared Elon Musk “out of control” and appeared to call for his arrest. Our “Indispensable Right” will, according to Reich, be safely in the hands of the European censors who can protect us from errant and dangerous thoughts... https://t.co/N4r1Dn2k0s
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) September 2, 2024
Roger McNamee called on Elon Musk to be arrested for "undermining the federal government." McNamee is a famous Silicon Valley investor and aspiring member of the American Stasi. Jonathan Turley, a staunch advocate of free speech, details the insanity.
Silicon Valley investor Roger McNamee this weekend went on MSNBC’s “Last Word” and called for the arrest of Elon Musk for “undermining” the federal government by sharing his opinions on X.
McNamee is the latest denizen of the global elite to call for criminalizing speech to silence those with opposing views.McNamee is the founding partner of Elevation Partners and has a colorful history as a band member, a volunteer for Eugene McCarthy and a protester against Vietnam.
As discussed in my book “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage”, he is like many liberal baby boomers now joining the anti-free speech movement. They have decided that free speech, once the defining right for the left, is now an existential threat.
McNamee’s rationale for criminalizing speech is chillingly shallow and irrational. He declared that somehow Musk’s political views made him a danger as the head of companies of major importance to the United States. It does not bother him when CEOs adopt far left views, just Musk opposing some of those views:
“You have somebody who runs a really strategic defense and aerospace projects for the federal government who’s actively undermining the government that’s paying him. And somewhere in that is a legal case that needs to be prosecuted.”
Perish the thought that a CEO might undermine the government.
"Undermining the government" through speech is exactly why the First Amendment exists. Any regime that doesn't allow you to criticize it is, by definition, a tyranny, robbing every person of their ability to be fully human.
"And somewhere in that is a legal case that needs to be prosecuted.”
“Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.” -- Lavrentiy Beria
Without freedom of thought, there is no freedom at all. "Comply or else" is the rallying cry of the absolute tyrant, not a representative of a free people.
Free speech, as Turley argues, is the "indispensable right." It is the very foundation of all our other rights.
Unless we win the battle for free speech, all is lost. We may as well all start reading up on living under a soft tyranny by studying Brave New World because that is the world the transnational elite is aiming for.
What they don't want is freedom to think or achieve as an American.
SpaceX and the Polaris Dawn crew have completed the first commercial spacewalk!
— Polaris (@PolarisProgram) September 12, 2024
“SpaceX, back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.” — Mission Commander @rookisaacman during Dragon egress and seeing our planet from ~738 km pic.twitter.com/lRczSv5i4k
