Fickle Free Speech Warriors Found their Limits, Apparently

We either have free speech in America or we don't.  

Speech that is disgusting, stomach-turning, and vile is precisely the type of speech that requires the protection of a Constitutional Right to vocalize it.  In America we have that protection, it's called the First Amendment to the constitution--a vital part of the Bill of Rights.

But do we really have free speech though, in 2023's America?  Everyone knows there are guideposts and some speech is NOT protected (e.g. yelling "FIRE" in a crowded theater)--but what about political speech?

Sometimes it seems as if free speech is only permitted if certain groups, political parties, individuals, beliefs, cultures, constituencies, and ideologies are specifically NOT targeted.

We know about cancel culture.  

We know some comedians get away with saying anything they want, about anyone they want, with no real risk of financially-costly blowback.  Sometimes, folks in this camp financially benefit from their outrageously offensive speech.   Others, however,  have artificially constructed and universally mandated but unvocalized "boundaries" that, if crossed, bring immediate cancellation, stigma, and financial ruin.  Many have met this fate and never recovered.

Christians are routinely targeted for hateful speech, disgusting "artistic" depictions, and shameful cartoons.  Ho hum, nobody cares, and few stand up to decry attacks on Christianity, which is telling.....

Other religions, however, enjoy universally embraced, accepted, and projected "boundaries."  As an example:  the National Endowment for the Arts paid an artist to display a Crucifix in an aquarium full of urine.  They gushed that this was "ART" and a protected form of self expression.

By contrast, when the disgusting spectacle of the buring of the Holy Quran was advertised, promoted, and threatened by a "reverand in Florida"---free-speech warriors were AWOL. 

See how that works?

To be clear:  I do not support disgusting attacks based upon the immutable or specific characteristics of any particular religion, race, culture, or person.  NOBODY should engage in this.  I certainly don't.

But if we truly have free speech to protect disgusting, vile, appalling and gut-turning speech aimed at such persons, institutions, and cultures----------it is only a real thing if it is not selective and not punitive.  

In America--the left, the media, and some special interest groups with smiling faces and determined sincerity say cute things to demonstrate their alleged "support" of the First Amendment.  They say "We have the First Amendment----you can say anything you want but you have to understand there may be real consequences for what you say."  (translation: say something they don't 'like' ----and they will seek your absolute destruction for hate speech----- if they deem it to be 'offensive'....)

No, while they blatantly distort  their support of free speech--they've already tacitly adopted and normalized the European model on "free"speech--which surpresses much of it based upon artificially manufactured and politically correct driven "norms".  

Recently--these very same fickle free-speech warriors have apparently found their limits within a wedge issue among their comrades.  Yes, the left and many media outlets are currently embroiled in what appears to be an uncharacteristic, unusual display of internal squabbling which is driving a wedge through their caucus. (normally, they swim like a school of fish with uber liberals, moderates, and conservative Democrats ALWAYS closing ranks and moving together as a unit--which has been incredibly EFFECTIVE for them.  Republicans, by contrast, never seem to get this--particularly lately--which leads to splinter groups, infighting, and a [figuratively speaking, of course] circular firing squad effect that allows Republicans to LOSE when it counts the MOST).  And I say all this as a LIFELONG Republican!!)  

Now, it seems, the left are divided on the Israel/Hamas war.  And America's handling of it.  And President Biden's response.

Many Democrats want an immediate cease fire and decry the loss of Palestinian lives.  Others, perhaps fewer, openly purport to support "Israel's right to defend herself" while privately (and sometimes publicly) equivocating the violence of the October 7th Hamas terror attack with their perception/understanding of Israel's treatment of Palestinians, historically).  It is ripping the Democrats to pieces and President Biden's re-election polling numbers are showing the outcome.  And it get's even worse for Biden if Joe Manchin runs in the No Labels party next year, to boot.

But setting those political implications aside--here comes something interesting and curious.

As I saw very talented editorial cartoonist Michael Ramirez' cartoon going viral (depicting HAMAS doing what HAMAS actually does--hiding behind innocent civilians as human shields)--these same selective free-speech warriors demanded and succeeded in having that cartoon pulled.  And the complicit Washington Post--a  compromised left-leaning newspaper --compliantly pulled the cartoon down and issued a gushing apology to appease the hard left.

This cartoon was attacked by the left and some in the media and subsequently pulled from publications in 2023

Interesting to contrast that with the American media's defense of a Canadian Artist's disgusting, unrealistic and detached-from-reality cartoon of our former President depicted, classlessly and casually, playing golf over the dead bodies of two Mexican immigrants in the Rio Grande back in 2019.  When the Canadian cartoonist responsible for that cartoon lost his contract shortly thereafter (reportedly due to a contract negotiation impasse and not the Trump cartoon, according to that cartoonist's former employer)--the US media went ballistic and apoplectic lining up to  support the Canadian.  His cartoon was widely circulated and disseminated in America--moreso than it ever would have been absent the controversy.  (And as distasteful as this cartoon was--I never felt it should be cesored nor did I feel the artist should be cancelled.)

This Canadian artist's cartoon was celebrated by the hard left and the media and widely disseminated throughout America in 2019..

I don't know how everyone cannot see this dichotomy.  

The Left wants free speech that doesn't offend them--and the press, the Democrat party, and many components of the deep state is their muscular enforcement mechanism.  The Right wants this, too, (even though they don't admit it) yet the Right has no ally in this quest. 

So the answer to whether or not we really have free speech in our country anymore is: 

NO. 

It no longer really exists---with only a handful of exceptions which I don't even have to define---because everyone already knows what group(s) continue to enjoy plenary free speech protection in Amercia in 2023--------no matter what they say or do----that's why.

The rest of us better watch out.