The Laughing Wolf

A Threat To The Republic

I had another food for thought planned for today, but the post on Venomous Kate raises one that deserves a great deal of thought. There are those who feel that my comment on “threat to the Republic” was hyperbole. That it was overreaching emotionalism at best, and most likely poor theatrics.

Were I simply talking about Electric Venom, that would be true. The Republic will easily survive her leaving, or the loss of almost any blogger out there, including myself.

My comment, however, was based on a much wider consideration. The fact is, freedom of speech is dead on almost every school campus in the nation. Indeed, the evidence suggests that most schools are actively engaged in the suppression of speech, which leads to a number of thoughts about their commitment to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge and the advancement of humanity.

Freedom of speech through the Press, or the Old Media, is dead as well. There is almost no method by which an average Citizen can gain entry into the organs of The Press, and make themselves heard to any significant degree. The self-anointed gatekeepers are vain and jealous diminutive deities, and it is not for mere mortals to tread their hallowed halls.

Which leaves us with the hope of the New Media, of which the blogosphere is a crucial part. The New Media offers a shot at true freedom of the press and true freedom of speech as has never before been conceived. Anyone, anywhere, can write and cast their words on the waters. Unlike previous media, the electronic media has little or no cost associated with it, and even the poorest American has access on some basis to computers and the Internet. One no longer needs large sums of money to place ideas out to thousands or even millions.

Yet, there are those that fear this. The recent gathering in Switzerland was but one part of a backlash against this new medium and new freedom. There are others who, out of fear, ignorance, intolerance, or just a plain desire for power who work to block or control this opportunity.

Of all of them, it is the venal and despicable group of crackers who make possible subtle and large scale attacks on the very infrastructure of this new media who worry me the most. For their efforts, often aimed at those with whom they disagree, pose the greatest threat to a true information age. For they would destroy it in an effort to control it, and are of a type that would much rather see it destroyed than to let it be if they can not control it.

This also ties back in to other comments and arguments being made. The simple fact is that these people are attacking not just sites and technology, but what can only be considered a cornerstone of the Republic: freedom of speech. This does not mean freedom only to those with whom you agree, but far more importantly to those with whom you strongly disagree.

It is easy to separate the cowardly from others. There are those who disagree strongly, even violently with a point, but will fight to the death for the right of a person to say those things. They are confident of themselves and their beliefs. Those who live in fear and would control others have one thing that gives them away every time: they can not stand any disagreement or contrary opinion. Therefore, they are unwilling to give others rights they demand for themselves.

A good example of this can be found over in the blogroll, namely Misha. Misha was voted most obnoxious right-wing blooger last year, and is well known for his strong take on subjects. Yet, Misha has gone to the aid of bloggers, even those with whom he strongly disagrees, to support their right to freedom of speech. It is worth noting that to the best of my knowledge, none of those he has assisted has returned the same courtesy, which speaks volumes about them.

The marketplace of ideas is just that. It is not a Stalinist nightmare of a store, where only the properly vetted and approved short (oh, how short) list of items is available. It is an unregulated and thriving bazaar filled with staples and exotics, with new things appearing all the time. The very success of said marketplace, and of this great experiment that is America, depends upon it. For it is the sharing and discussion of ideas on all topics that is crucial to an informed Citizenry and considered actions in regards governance and government.

The threat posed by these crackers is, therefore, truly a threat to the Republic. We stand at the brink of the greatest opportunity for the free and open exchange of ideas the world has ever seen. There are those who face this future with joy and hope, and there are those who fear it and seek to eliminate it. There are those who are willing to die for your right to have and express your opinion, and there are those who would cheerfully deny you that right and strangle your words stillborn. The latter are legion, because they include not only the ones actively attacking, but all those who refuse to take a stand.

So think on this today. Which one are you?

LW