A Radical Defense of Free Speech
Recently, we have seen the rise of division and violence in the United States of America. From the shooting of Charlie Kirk in Utah, to the mass shooting in Minnesota, we have seen an uptick in political attacks. Politics have boiled down to shooting the other side for a simple difference of opinion. This can be attributed to years of political demonization among the left.
There has been a massive anti-free speech shift in the country which has inflamed an animosity towards your opposition. This concludes with violence. When 50 percent of the country is dehumanized for over 10 years, it is no surprise when people start to believe it. Let me specify because I have been utilizing vague terms. For the past 10 years, the left has been calling President Trump “Hitler” or a “threat to democracy.” Since day one, they have said that he was put into power by an authoritarian regime undermining the legitimacy of a free election. With this context, it is no wonder that many people have tried to kill a so-called “Hitler.” Throughout his presidency, there have been four confirmed attempts on his life. This is a product of the current cultural climate. All of this is concerning, but how do we get back to a sense of normalcy?
Inclusion is an important part of our society. In fact, to many people it is the most important part in our society. So why should we exclude others from the marketplace of ideas? And if we exclude others from the marketplace, on what authority should someone banish them to ideological exile? Someone needs to have authority over whose ideas are valid and invalid. In terms of people who regularly champion such free-speech regulation, someone has to decide whose ideas are the “haves” and whose are the “have-nots.”
This thinking puts regular people into boxes and allows no room for a kinship with your fellow human. It has and always will lead to the “have-nots” treating the “haves” as less than and eventually even lead to their dehumanization. In practice, this looks something like the “cancel culture” that has dominated our society. The authority was placed in the hands of the mob. Since being in the mob requires people to homogenize into a groupthink, there is no room for checks and balances. There is now one central authority governing the whole marketplace of thought (hence the reason I was quoting Marx).
This results in the mob now going after those whose ideology they deem dangerous or offensive. Eventually, the term “Nazi” or “Fascist” will get thrown around in order to dehumanize them. This dehumanization gives leeway, gives permission to commit violence against the ideological “haves” who are dangerous; who present as dangerous to the structure of societal norms. This is what has led to where we are today.
Fortunately, normalcy is not too far in the past where it is lost in the modern day. “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire said this over 300 years ago, but it still rings true today. This is how we get back to normalcy. You talk with your opposition and compare and contrast ideas. You engage in a radical free speech with your opposition in order to clash ideas to see whose is better. Our country was founded on these principles that reflect Enlightenment ideals. These values are indiscriminate of race, gender, and sexuality. Out of all the information I presented, the best quote I can think of in defense of radical free speech is by a great man who was recently taken from us:
“When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence. That’s when civil war happens.” - Charlie Kirk 2025