Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Free Speech Can Get You Killed? Support It Anyway.

The Western world needs to understand that the rights of freedom of speech; freedom of the press; and life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are all coming under fire with the assassinations of the ten Charlie Hebdo journalists by Islamic terrorists.  There is a war going on, where the soldiers are the journalists and the weapons are pens.  This threat needs to be dealt with boldly, and the need to keep the awareness alive should not die down as soon as the newsworthiness fades from the headlines. 
Western democracies are at a crossroads regarding basic principles.  American Thinker interviewed Brooke Goldstein, an attorney, author, and filmmaker, as well as the director of The Lawfare Project, where she attempts to raise awareness regarding abuses of the Western legal systems.  Also interviewed is Walter Olson, a journalist who works at the Cato Institute specializing in constitutional law.  Both agree that those brave enough to speak publicly, write critically, or satirize militant Islam find themselves on the receiving end of violence, threats of violence, and/or lawsuits.  Goldstein emphasizes, "Terrorists realize that a free press and freedom of speech are the greatest weapons against tyranny.  They want us to fear for our lives when we think and challenge their views.  They try to intimidate to prevent us from speaking on these issues, debating them, and making fun of them."

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