Censorship is the Death of Progress

Censorship, whether by individuals, organizations, or governments is the death of communication, of coming together through a discussion of our differences, of growth toward a future of peace. Censorship is the end of hope and the beginning of demise, defeat, and destruction. Censorship is the first step of totalitarianism. And it currently exists in the US.

 

If Free Speech is life, then Censorship is death. One must never incite others to violence, certainly. But there is a great difference between the ignorance of saying, "Green people are stupid and ugly and are to be ignored," and the violent hate of saying, "Green people are stupid and ugly and should be denied housing, jobs, and even life."

 

Censorship does not silence hate. It welds it into a pressure cooker with nowhere for the steam to escape, sets it on the large burner, then turns the burner to high. Free speech allows the free exchange of ideas, of course. But it allows ignorance and hate to vent, to be displayed, and to be exposed as foolish, immature, self-destructive, and impotent.

 

Today’s censors possibly may think they help, but they always rob, kill, and destroy. The evil that thrives in the dark will always die in the light. Why would anyone with even a little intellect, a modicum of good will, and any hope for the future allow evil to hide in the darkness of censorship? What good person alive today would want to twist the truth and follow in the footsteps of Joseph Goebbels?

 

Let us use free speech to free our minds in open conversation so we may build bridges between minds, thereby creating solutions. Let us use free speech to free our hearts in open communication so we may build bridges between each other, thereby creating friendship and fellowship between everyone. Let us start today, before tomorrow is completely lost.

 

I have seen the future that may be. It is a living horror, and we are quite near the point where change will no longer be possible. - Paul