NYT Opinion Writer: Censorship is Free Speech
Is war peace? Is freedom slavery? Is censorship free speech?
Ulrich Baer, professor of comparative literature at NYU, won’t bother you with the first two, which are slogans from George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Instead, in an article for the New York Times, he argues for a new view of free speech, one with which censorship is not only compatible, but necessary.
He writes:
At another point, he states:
In politics, analogies to Orwell’s 1984 are often overused, but here, the comparison couldn’t be any clearer. In Baer’s world, censorship is free speech. It’s a startling example of Newspeak that would make Orwell blush. The only way it makes sense at all in its proponent’s mind is because he redefines both terms into a pale reflection of their original meanings.
In addition, Baer’s view “requires the realization that in politics, the parameters of public speech must be continually redrawn to accommodate those who previously had no standing.” In other words, censorship must continually expand as history goes forward.
Is war peace? Is freedom slavery? Is censorship free speech?
Ulrich Baer, professor of comparative literature at NYU, won’t bother you with the first two, which are slogans from George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Instead, in an article for the New York Times, he argues for a new view of free speech, one with which censorship is not only compatible, but necessary.
He writes:
The idea of freedom of speech does not mean a blanket permission to say anything anybody thinks. It means balancing the inherent value of a given view with the obligation to ensure that other members of a given community can participate in discourse as fully recognized members of that community. Free-speech protections [. . .] should not mean that someone’s humanity, or their right to participate in political speech as political agents, can be freely attacked, demeaned or questioned.
At another point, he states:
The recent student demonstrations at Auburn against Spencer’s visit — as well as protests on other campuses against Charles Murray, Milo Yiannopoulos and others — should be understood as an attempt to ensure the conditions of free speech for a greater group of people, rather than censorship.
In politics, analogies to Orwell’s 1984 are often overused, but here, the comparison couldn’t be any clearer. In Baer’s world, censorship is free speech. It’s a startling example of Newspeak that would make Orwell blush. The only way it makes sense at all in its proponent’s mind is because he redefines both terms into a pale reflection of their original meanings.
In addition, Baer’s view “requires the realization that in politics, the parameters of public speech must be continually redrawn to accommodate those who previously had no standing.” In other words, censorship must continually expand as history goes forward.
