24th
Matthew Yglesias - Worse Than Yellow
Matthew Yglesias here confuses cowardice with pragmatism.
In response to a question about controversial Danish cartoons, he suggests that free speech is “a matter of principle… tied to practicalities.” He’s entitled to his perspective, but its impossible to reconcile such nonsense with the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. Taken together, they clearly identify freedom of speech as a fundamental component of man’s essential nature.
The Declaration of Independence declares that men are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” The Constitution goes further still, specifying that “Congress shall make no law…” —that is, not a single law— “abridging the freedom of speech.”
These provisions do not regard mens’ rights as a matter of conditional permissions granted by a government; they were forceful assertions of innate negative rights that aught be defended by, and from government.
I’m a staunch advocate of free speech. I’m also plenty suspicious of anyone that would not only surrender their own liberties, but also cavalierly dismiss the rights of others in response to threats, real or hypothesized.
Yglesias’s position is not prudence or pragmatism. It’s a contemptible concession of essential liberties.
If, upon reading a particular comic, you feel compelled to don a vest laden with explosives, may I suggest that you first take a very cold shower, and then cancel your subscription to the offending publication. Freedom of speech is a right, but you are not obligated to read or listen to what anyone else has to say.
I can’t begin to understand how subverting liberties in order to satisfy some potentially murderous constituency wouldn’t serve as a clear example of the efficacy of such coercion.
You might wonder how the same progressives that rightfully criticized the Bush administration’s questionable actions throughout its prosecution of the “War on Terrorism” can so easily brush aside rights in this context. Apparently, utilitarian calculations can lead you to some bizarre places.
As for Matthew Yglesias, while I fully support his right to say what he likes, I’d much prefer that he hadn’t written anything at all.
-k
