In the day that LBJ wanted to usher in the “Great Society” with a whole slew of liberal reforms, the typical liberal was 100% behind the doctrine of free speech as represented in the 1st Amendment. This was a cardinal commitment of the liberal agenda way back then in the 60s. It was such a fervent commitment that the ACLU went out of its way to protect the free-speech rights of such heinous groups as the American Nazi movement and affiliated white-supremacists. According to the ACLU, such groups had an absolute right to voice their point of view, as guaranteed by federal law in the 1st Amendment.
But so-called liberals today have abandoned this principle of freedom of all speech in favor of endorsing the suppression of “hate speech,” as defined by them. According to them, and now according to the once venerable ACLU, those exhibiting what the liberals decide is hate speech should have no such right to freedom of speech. And of course the liberals can employ their Antifa street gangs to shout down anyone who dares to express opinions contrary to what the liberals deem to be commendable — Antifa acting in a way not dissimilar to the way the Brown Shirts in Germany in the 1930s went after any opposition in the streets. So I ask you, isn’t this new “liberal” — so illiberal in fact — a pretty dismal comparison to the liberals of the 60s and 70s?
As for suppressing hate speech, that is a very very slippery slope to tread, as the hate speech the liberals try to disparage with strong-arm tactics today may turn out to be their speech tomorrow.
Henry's Views 