Censoring Our Speech

For over 200 years now, freedom of speech has been one of our most valued liberties. This inalienable right has become so embedded into our national character, that we don't know life without it.  But we're starting to get a glimpse into what it might be like to have others want to silence us; and some of these examples are not just coming from our government, but from private citizens demonstrating their lack of tolerance.

Probably the most well-known example of infringement on free speech is the IRS targeting of conservative groups.  The special scrutiny, excessive questioning, and unfair demands on information went to groups such as the Tea Party, which were seeking tax-exempt status. In recent findings, House Ways and Means Chairman, Dave Camp, said it was Washington, D.C. which gave the directive to audit conservative groups, not merely a Cincinnati office as originally stated.

Last week was the case with famous women's rights activist and outspoken critic of oppressive practices under Sharia law, Aayan Hirsi Ali, who was due to receive an honorary degree from Brandeis University. After pressure from faculty, students and some Muslim organizations, most notably the Council on Islamic-American Relations (CAIR), Brandeis caved, and withdrew the award. Why? Due to her past comments in opposition to Islam;  the president of Brandeis felt it wasn't in keeping with the values of the university. Ali herself was raised a Muslim and survived some of the very offensive and violent treatment she speaks about now - female genital mutilation, beatings, and an arranged marriage.  http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/09/brandeis-university-withdraws-planned-honorary-degree-for-islam-critic-ayaan/

Related to this was the banning of the film "Honor Diaries", a documentary about the violence imposed on women in Islamic societies. After CAIR started a campaign calling the film Islamophobic, The University of Michigan agreed not to show the film.  http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/03/31/islamophobia-in-action-honor-diaries-screening-shut-down-by-cair/

Mark Steyn, best-selling author and radio host, is now defending himself in a defamation lawsuit when he commented that climate scientist Michael Mann's 'hockey stick' theory was fraudulent. Steyn maintains that this is a free speech issue and that Mann was trying to silence those who oppose climate change theories by taking Steyn, and National Review magazine to court. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/31/climate-scientist-case-against-national-review-go-/

When Charles Krauthammer, in a Washington Post column, challenged the notion that the science on climate change is settled, environmental activists launched a petition to have the newspaper refrain from publishing his column.  http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/24/heating-up-climate-change-advocates-try-to-silence-krauthammer/

The University of Hawaii is being sued by two students who were not allowed to distribute the U.S. Constitution on campus at a school event. They were told they could only distribute at a 'free speech zone', which was described as "a small, muddy, frequently-flooded area on the edge of campus." This is in addition to another incident when, on Constitution Day, a student at Modesto Junior College in California, was prevented from handing out the Constitution. He sued the school for violating his rights.  http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/24/another-university-stops-students-from-handing-out-constitution/

During the recent incident in which many people rallied to the defense of a Nevada rancher against an excessive show of force by the government over cattle grazing fees, the government had set up a 'free speech zone' for those who wanted to protest. By cordoning off a small area for free speech, they were restricting much of the larger area to no speech. "Regardless of the purpose, advocates say such zones are an inappropriate infringement of free speech."  http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada/free-speech-zones-blm-cattle-roundup-put-controversial-areas-spotlight

The recent forced resignation of Mozilla Firefox CEO Brendan Eich, was due to his political donation for Proposition 8 (anti-gay marriage) in California six years ago. Some of the employees, as well as members of the board, couldn't tolerate his position on this issue, and consequently, his right to exercise free speech. Read The Thought Police Strike Again.

Several months ago, it was reported that insurance companies were getting pressure from the White House to keep quiet with criticism of Obamacare. In a CNN report, "the White House is exerting massive pressure on the industry, including the trade associations, to keep quiet. Sources telling us they fear White House retribution."  https://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/wh-intimidates-insurance-companies-not-publicly-criticize-obamacare_765582.html

These are several of the many examples of how our highly valued freedom of speech is being infringed upon. As Charles Krauthammer said recently, "when it comes to free speech, they don't even hide it anymore. Now they proudly want certain arguments banished from discourse. The next step is book burning. So the question of the day is: Can you light a Kindle?"