Old-But-New-Again Political Strategy: Censor the Opposition

[JustCallMeNick]

It’s Time To Put An End To Anti-Choice Speech | Thought Catalog

I don't care what your position on abortion is at this point. Whatever it is, this should disturb you.

This woman seriously thinks she has a right to not be offended?

Next thing you know, she'll be arguing we should silence anyone who doesn't agree with her on tax policy. And mandate that everyone say please and thank you on pain of some fine.

Free speech is one of the foundational pillars of liberalism. If we give that up, what have we got left?

 

[Breathe]

I find many of those that claim to be 'liberal' and 'progressive' are usually just as anti-freedom as the groups and people they claim to hate, like those darned conservatives.
(So ironically, they are not liberal or progressive. )
It does seem like many are just 'anti-conservatives', or something.

If you can't support the right for someone whose views you completely disagree with -- even sicken you -- to say what s/he wants to (so long as it isn't, you know, encouraging murder and whatnot), you're not really supporting freedom of speech.

I find that few people really are.

 

[SomeRandom]

I certainly don't think we should go around banning any anti choice speeches/abortion protests or the like. However I do think that clinics and hospitals and what have you should be protest free zones. Protesting outside a medical facility that does abortions is like protesting outside a hospital for people not to have insert controversial medical treatment here. It's just emotional bullying and interferes with people trying to go to get medical treatment, not even necessarily people going in for abortions even. People could be going there to get advice on their pregnancy or trying to get pregnant with a doctor's help. Even if they were aborting they could be terminating because of serious medical complications or god forbid a woman who has a hedgehog baby (Google it) or the mother has cancer or whatever extenuating often saddening circumstance that lead them to a clinic in the first place. Which is seemingly ignored by every single protester I have ever seen. The last thing those people need is holier than thou ******** "protesting" and calling them murderer or whatever sickening names because they made a tough medical decision, just outside a place of medicine no less.
I also don't care what your stance on abortion is, such protests like that are simply appalling imo.

Protest all you like, but there's a time and a place for all things.

 

[JRMcC]

Hopefully this attitude will stay in the extreme minorities.

 

[JRMcC]

Also, who the heck learned in school that free speech doesn't protect hate speech?

 

[leibowde84]

Also, who the heck learned in school that free speech doesn't protect hate speech?

This article was referring to Australia's notion of free-speech. I am not sure what is protected there, but in the US, racism is certainly protected.

 

[Revoltingest]

It’s Time To Put An End To Anti-Choice Speech | Thought Catalog

I don't care what your position on abortion is at this point. Whatever it is, this should disturb you.

This woman seriously thinks she has a right to not be offended?

Next thing you know, she'll be arguing we should silence anyone who doesn't agree with her on tax policy. And mandate that everyone say please and thank you on pain of some fine.

Free speech is one of the foundational pillars of liberalism. If we give that up, what have we got left?

Someone here just told me of the term, "illiberal liberal". It fits.
A real "liberal" is one who is tolerant & permissive of many views & actions.
It is not one who would squelch contrary political opinions.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I certainly don't think we should go around banning any anti choice speeches/abortion protests or the like. However I do think that clinics and hospitals and what have you should be protest free zones. Protesting outside a medical facility that does abortions is like protesting outside a hospital for people not to have insert controversial medical treatment here. It's just emotional bullying and interferes with people trying to go to get medical treatment, not even necessarily people going in for abortions even. People could be going there to get advice on their pregnancy or trying to get pregnant with a doctor's help. Even if they were aborting they could be terminating because of serious medical complications or god forbid a woman who has a hedgehog baby (Google it) or the mother has cancer or whatever extenuating often saddening circumstance that lead them to a clinic in the first place. Which is seemingly ignored by every single protester I have ever seen. The last thing those people need is holier than thou ******** "protesting" and calling them murderer or whatever sickening names because they made a tough medical decision, just outside a place of medicine no less.
I also don't care what your stance on abortion is, such protests like that are simply appalling imo.

Protest all you like, but there's a time and a place for all things.

Many pro-life groups also camp out in parking lots of women's health clinics with vans/trucks saying they provide free sonograms as a competitor to the clinic, but once inside they gain personal information of the woman seeking help, get the sonogram, and then the coercion and harassment begins along with offering medically false information on the risks of abortion.

Women who have unfortunately decided to take them up on their offer have been threatened to be "outed" by the people inside since they have their personal information if they decide to follow through with terminating the pregnancy. Many instances of violations of privacy have occurred in releasing of medical records of women.

They're also the reason why many patients need escorts to get in to clinics. They're repeatedly accosted by protestors. At least around here they are.

 

[Revoltingest]

I certainly don't think we should go around banning any anti choice speeches/abortion protests or the like. However I do think that clinics and hospitals and what have you should be protest free zones. Protesting outside a medical facility that does abortions is like protesting outside a hospital for people not to have insert controversial medical treatment here. It's just emotional bullying and interferes with people trying to go to get medical treatment, not even necessarily people going in for abortions even. People could be going there to get advice on their pregnancy or trying to get pregnant with a doctor's help. Even if they were aborting they could be terminating because of serious medical complications or god forbid a woman who has a hedgehog baby (Google it) or the mother has cancer or whatever extenuating often saddening circumstance that lead them to a clinic in the first place. Which is seemingly ignored by every single protester I have ever seen. The last thing those people need is holier than thou ******** "protesting" and calling them murderer or whatever sickening names because they made a tough medical decision, just outside a place of medicine no less.
I also don't care what your stance on abortion is, such protests like that are simply appalling imo.
Protest all you like, but there's a time and a place for all things.

Aye, the how & where of protests matters.

A rerun of my landlording experience......
I once had an medical office building vacancy which attracted the interest of an abortion doc. We never got as far as even negotiating a lease, but an anti-choice group got wind of it, & began threatening my tenants with protests to interfere with their businesses. (These miscreants said I was going to lease to their foe.) My tenants, supported me, & gave these protesters the stink eye.
I retaliated in the most heinous & vicious way possible.....I mocked them in a limerick I posted on their office door. Never heard from them again.

 

[Marisa]

All this time I thought "freedom of speech" included speech we don't necessarily like. I hope everyone understands why not being allowed to yell "fire" in a crowded theater is not the same as expressing the opinion that blacks and whites shouldn't mix. Racism is ugly, but the law has standards and while you can't deny someone their rights because you don't like the color of their skin, you still have the right to your opinion (however ugly it is). As an extremely pro-choice person, I respect the anti-choice and my ONLY goal in conversing with them is to hopefully get them to a place where we understand the best outcome is to protect both our opinions, and that means protecting choice. I don't only approve of the right to choose from those whose choice I approve of.

 

[SomeRandom]

Many pro-life groups also camp out in parking lots of women's health clinics with vans/trucks saying they provide free sonograms as a competitor to the clinic, but once inside they gain personal information of the woman seeking help, get the sonogram, and then the coercion and harassment begins along with offering medically false information on the risks of abortion.

Women who have unfortunately decided to take them up on their offer have been threatened to be "outed" by the people inside since they have their personal information if they decide to follow through with terminating the pregnancy. Many instances of violations of privacy have occurred in releasing of medical records of women.

They're also the reason why many patients need escorts to get in to clinics. They're repeatedly accosted by protestors. At least around here they are.

That is despicable. I hope there's some way to jail those cowardly scumbags! I mean that sounds at the very least highly illegal.

 

[SomeRandom]

Aye, the how & where of protests matters.

A rerun of my landlording experience......
I once had an medical office building vacancy which attracted the interest of an abortion doc. We never got as far as even negotiating a lease, but an anti-choice group got wind of it, & began threatening my tenants with protests to interfere with their businesses. (These miscreants said I was going to lease to their foe.) My tenants, supported me, & gave these protesters the stink eye.
I retaliated in the most heinous & vicious way possible.....I mocked them in a limerick I posted on their office door. Never heard from them again.

I applaud your retaliation method, sir!

 

[MysticSang'ha]

That is despicable. I hope there's some way to jail those cowardly scumbags! I mean that sounds at the very least highly illegal.

It is legal. And I think it's despicable too.

 

[Revoltingest]

I applaud your retaliation method, sir!

You shouldn't.
It only encourages me.
Think of the children!

 

[SomeRandom]

You shouldn't.
It only encourages me.
Think of the children!

Bah! The little blighters will just have to learn to live with it!

 

[Marisa]

You shouldn't.
It only encourages me.
Think of the children!

They can't be protected from the harsh realities of life forever. Best they are exposed while I'm present to help them properly process what they see.

 

[SomeRandom]

It is legal. And I think it's despicable too.

How is that legal?

 

[SomeRandom]

This article was referring to Australia's notion of free-speech. I am not sure what is protected there, but in the US, racism is certainly protected.

Ehh, in Aus, you have free speech. Hate Speech is protected up to a certain point, but regardless will usually get you a **** ton of backlash.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

How is that legal?

Not sure exactly, but my suspicions are successful propaganda from pro-life movements in diminishing access to reproductive health clinics, while expanding their access to the podium with religious-based rhetoric coupled with false information on abortion risks as scare tactics and supported by groups with enough money to be noticed.

Money and propaganda. I think it comes down to that overall. Throw in a little bit of sexism and classism, and it creates a more nuanced picture that I witness.

 

[SomeRandom]

Not sure exactly, but my suspicions are successful propaganda from pro-life movements in diminishing access to reproductive health clinics, while expanding their access to the podium with religious-based rhetoric coupled with false information on abortion risks as scare tactics and supported by groups with enough money to be noticed.

Money and propaganda. I think it comes down to that overall. Throw in a little bit of sexism and classism, and it creates a more nuanced picture that I witness.

How disgusting of them. I'm almost convinced that maybe we do need to silence certain people (almost.)