The Idolatry of Free Speech

We will not accept a capitulation of our free speech, nor will we allow intimidation to sway our thoughts. The thugs and hooligans who burned embassies and issued death threats in the wake of the Danish cartoons were despicable. But this behaviour is what we should expect when we abuse sensitivities, not their silence; just as we do not expect silence from those whose rights are being threatened. Our speech is powerful -- if it was not, protecting and assaulting it would be equally pointless.

Gun owners have the constitutional right (in the US) to own and bear arms. But with that right comes the responsibility for their safe use and storage. The absence of a health regard and respect for guns results in too many fatal accidents every year. Likewise, the potentially dangerous weapon known as free speech needs to be respected and used responsibly.

If you are offended by Muslim radicals who wish to push their beliefs onto others, or to censor your right to draw religious figures through threats of violence, I am offended by the childless, careless, and strategically impotent speech if the current DMD and related events. These serve the narratives of the radicals, enabling the pursuit of their own political goals against those Muslims whom you're making it harder for them to resist.

Strategic engagement is not silence. It is not capitulation. It is sound battle strategy.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Draw
• Mohammad
• Day
• Thunderf00t
• Concordance
• Bryantulsa
• prophet
• danish
• cartoons
• embassy
• Burn
• Koran
• day
• Free
• speech
• expression
• thought

[RevDevilin]

Hi there thank you for allowing my vid response

and your response is ?

[UNFFwildcard]

@RevDevilin

Sorry, I should have commented on your video earlier. I'm preparing a follow-up video that will include your question.

[Miranox2]

It's sad to see so many people who think political correctness is more important than free speech. As soon as you start imposing arbitrary limits on free speech you create a precedent which can be exploited for the purpose of censorship. Whether it be Muhammad, the holocaust or any topic at all, free speech should not be restricted. You do NOT have the right to not be offended. You do NOT have the right to tell others what they can say and when.

[SezSays]

The issue that you miss is that these "sensitivities" 5:22 in different groups are not equal. And as a result, the reactions given by certain groups are grossly disproportionate to the 'offensive action'. That is the core issue. Stop avoiding it and realize that people dont get special privileges because theyre 1) easily offended and 2) react like a psycho to mild stimuli.

[butobuto1]

@dymchurch1 idisagree we disagree lol.. i mean, of course you're right, i'm just saying it's not always wise to challenge 'the ennemie'

[dymchurch1]

@butobuto1 We're gonna have to agree to disagree. Because I stand by my previous comment

[butobuto1]

@dymchurch1 antagonism leads to armageddon.. you don't tell your mother or your boss that she's ugly.. i mean.. we're beyond the 'braveheart' thing of showing the enemy the ass, specialy when others will have to suffer for it..

[dymchurch1]

I don't buy it. You can't blame the thin skins of muslims on anybody but muslims. 

[hippo11222]

We need to be more constructive with what we say, not to be demagogues.

[hippo11222]

These people are not some innovative grass roots movement of free thought. Rather, they help to create even more censorship by feeding into the fear and paranoia of the extremists which in turn reinforces their persecution complex. They then reassure the rest of the populous the necessity of implementing more aggressive policies of censorship. Aggression in turn is met by more aggression. IT SOLVES NOTHING! Thanks for nothing Draw Muhammad Day movement.

[hippo11222]

The people that UNFFWildcard is criticizing are the kind of people that say what they want with reckless abandon. The type of people that would defecate on someone's front porch if it was not illegal just because they can. UNFFWildcard is not advocating that we make some sort of law that inhibits you from saying these things. He's telling those types of people to grow the f*&k up and learn some self control! It merely exacerbates the situation to not consider the repercussions of what you say.

[Lordpoison67]

I agree with dmd, however I also think holocaust cartoons should be published without apology. That is freespeach offensive inconsiderate and without warning. Popular ideas don't need to be protected.

[ForYeensSake]

I supported DMD1 and was going to support DMD2. However video's like yours and Dlandoncole's made me reconsider this stance. I thank you for broadening my view. I know it's late. It's the second time I watch this video (it's in my favs) and I still love it. Thanks a lot.

[kosherzombie]

All people SHOULD be treated equal. However, ideas should not be treated equally. They are at the mercy an scrutiny of the free world. We should not be pandering to sensitivities of any persons. People can exercise the right to not be offended. I like that you're trying to formulate some novel ideas, but frankly, I think you're full of shit. I've been watching your videos for some time now and I've found that your content has been consistently unsatisfactory. I'm finally unsubscribing.