When I was growing up it was never about tolerating intolerance. It was about dragging it out into the sunlight so you could kill it. They have a right to say anything they want so we can make an example of them and they don’t go into hiding and do dumb shit.
Of course that depended on the mainstream leadership believing in democracy and not leaning into extremism. Because the GOP has switched sides on democracy it’s a liability now instead of a strength. A swing too far from the laws of England our founders meant to forestall.
Dude, they literally took the Capitol building in an attempt to prevent the election results from being certified. If the GOP didn’t want to back Trump after that I’d respect that. But they fell in line. They’re okay with that. Which means they are not okay with democracy. There’s no democracy without free elections.
Who said anything about a utopia? I’m talking about one aspect, a belief in an American Democracy/Republic (I know the D word triggers some people out there and that’s not the conversation right now). If you read our founders writing they considered public debate to be the best way to maintain that project because the previous government would jail you for criticism. That’s it. That’s the reasoning and context. Nobody claimed it was perfect
When I was growing up it was never about tolerating intolerance. It was about dragging it out into the sunlight so you could kill it. They have a right to say anything they want so we can make an example of them and they don’t go into hiding and do dumb shit.
Of course that depended on the mainstream leadership believing in democracy and not leaning into extremism. Because the GOP has switched sides on democracy it’s a liability now instead of a strength. A swing too far from the laws of England our founders meant to forestall.
What are you on about, mate? This is the same sort of rhetoric you see form the GOP, “Make America great again.”
Dude, they literally took the Capitol building in an attempt to prevent the election results from being certified. If the GOP didn’t want to back Trump after that I’d respect that. But they fell in line. They’re okay with that. Which means they are not okay with democracy. There’s no democracy without free elections.
Do you think I’m defending the GOP?
Well you’re either defending them or defending tolerance of them. So take your pick.
No, I’m accusing your “things used to be better” rhetoric for being the same as their “make America great again” rhetoric.
Amusing, when exactly was this utopian culture in existence because as far as I’m aware the last 2000 years of society directly disagree with you.
Who said anything about a utopia? I’m talking about one aspect, a belief in an American Democracy/Republic (I know the D word triggers some people out there and that’s not the conversation right now). If you read our founders writing they considered public debate to be the best way to maintain that project because the previous government would jail you for criticism. That’s it. That’s the reasoning and context. Nobody claimed it was perfect
Well… that’s not very freedom of you.
I’m not the government. The amendment doesn’t protect their speech from mine.
True. Social shaming is a very effective tool against this stuff. I draw a hard line at laws that stop it, but I see your point.
This is one of the wisest things I’ve read.
You may have not read much.
Hey leave them alone. I like the idea that I might not be the dullest tool in the shed.
Of course that is freedom. It’s the freedom of association and freedom of speech of the people appealed by the words of these bigots.
No one is free of the consequences of their words.