Free speech should be an absolute.
Elon Musk called himself a ‘free speech absolutist’ in defending why he would not block Russian state media from Starlink internet satellites in Ukraine, claiming ‘all news sources are partially propaganda.’
Musk, 50, sent a collection of antennas to Ukraine this week after their president voiced concern that Ukrainians could lose internet access if Russia continues to attack communications towers, as it did with the bombing of a Kyiv TV tower on Wednesday.
However, the tech mogul said he would not block Russia state media – like Russia Today, which laid off all its US staff on Friday – because he’s not ‘sorry to be a free speech absolutist.’
He’s right. And those advocating shutting down Russian outlets are no better than propagandists themselves. Unless you hear what the other guy has to say, how can you judge it?
Likewise, I deplore those who want to punish Russian civilians living here – whether it is the oligarchs who face the nasty little Gove wanting to steal their assets (no, I won’t use the euphemism ‘confiscate’) or ordinary people being threatened by supposedly Conservative MPs with expulsion for the crime of being Russian. Did these arseholes learn nothing from the treatment of ethnic Japanese by the USA during WWII? Rhetorical question, of course.
There are basic morals and this behaviour breaks those morals, just as Putin did when he ordered tanks across the Ukrainian border.
Something I don’t understand – there’s a set of qualifications to join the EU, independent central bank, independent legal system, free media etc. Ukraine doesn’t have that last one having banned 2 russian language channels last year.
So I’d expect the EU to say to Zelenskyy that you can’t join as you don’t meet the criteria, and to announce that to Russia to take a bit of heat out. And now the EU doesn’t meet its own criteria of media freedom. What am I missing ‘cos my simplistic view is there is no such thing as consistent EU values and the EU are all basterds.
The EU and meeting its own critera? Some mistake, surely.
I’m sure that you are right and that cooler heads will eventually prevail to see the pointlessness of allowing EU accession to the Ukraine given it’s current state of development even before Putin started bombing the place. The EU though, is a political project, not an economic one, so other priorities take precedence.
It was as foolish for the EU to undertake the Eastern expansion in the way it did, but that happened as well and BRExit was one of the effects of that Eastern expansion of the EU to the borders of Russia.
If I was being cynical, I would suggest that the EU’s offer of Ukrainian accession is predicated upon the expectation that the Ukraine will be swallowed up by Russia to such a degree that the problem will resolve itself.
Even should someone do the decent thing and put some lead between Vladimir Putin’s ears, I’d expect the whole Ukrainian accession thing to get bogged down in EU bureaucracy because the EU simply can’t afford the financial costs of a Ukrainian enlargement, never mind the political costs.
Plus, it wouldn’t just be the Ukraine, but all the other Russian satellites like Moldova and the rest until the EU border extends to the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Why should the EU meet its own criteria? That’s for others, not the almighty EU.
I agree you should be free to speak as you wish, and you have to bear the legal consequences if your free speech exceeds the limit of legality (so incitement and slander may have consequences).
I too am not in favour of singling out individuals (the oligarchs) unless they have done something illegal, or broadcasters.
However the real test of morality is what you feel you are obliged to do when one county does something unacceptable. Sanctions seem a good first step (although ordinary people may suffer) but so far Putin has been prepared to ignore them and up the stakes when he feels he is threatened.
Putin applies a modern version of Danegeld. He has been permitted to get away with unacceptable actions as long as the gas and oil keep flowing and he threatens nuclear war.
At some point the cost of Danegeld becomes too great to bear – so it would be better to nip it in the bud earlier rather than later. You could argue that the time to do this was at the annexation of Crimea… and Putin reckons he can pull off the same stunt with parts or all of Ukraine.
So, if we really are serious about ending unacceptable behaviour then perhaps the blocking of Russian state media and the monstering of the oligarchs is part of the cost. YMMV.
A subtlety needs clarifying in your ” . . you have to bear the legal consequences if your free speech exceeds the limit of legality (so incitement and slander may have consequences).”
‘Slander’ results in a civil dispute, where the apparent victim may choose to challenge the statement in court as a private matter – that’s fair enough.
‘Incitement’ results in a criminal case, where the government of the day decides what counts as incitement and prosecutes, using the full weight of its powers.
Absolute freedom of speech should have no government sanction, it’s either free or it’s not. To have any government sanction facility creates the opening for nuance and mission-creep, which is where we are now.
Yes, I was aware of the subtlety but the point I was making is that exceptions to free speech can be tested in a court of law (civil or criminal) rather than leaving it to some High Woke Priest who is terribly offended on someone else’s behalf. Governments would have to pass laws, or enact existing emergency laws, to stifle more Free Speech, so their actions are visible.
Don’t know about you Mudplugger, but the other day, Senator Lindsey Graham called for a hit on Putin, on TV. I’d call that incitement but we all know nothing will happen. Rules for me, not for thee.
They can ban Russian state media all they want, I’ll still be able to see it. If all the media are spouting the same garbage, sometimes word for word, then there’s something they don’t want you to know.
It will be fascinating to see all these fine upstanding sanction makers’ matching actions when China finally decides to absorb Taiwan. Hint: don’t hold your breath.
I know. I am expecting that one to kick off sooner or later.
If you want to send Americans into fits of apoplexy, go onto the Triumph forum and mention Jap bikes or what the Japs are coming up with. Apparently its like using the N word.
To be fair, as Triumph don’t do anything that even tickles my fancy, I guess that’s unlikely.