News this morning tells of hackers who broke into David Irving's Website(s) and internet accounts. They apparently stole private information including ID's and passwords and even bank account information. They took mailing lists and destroyed content on his Website. This same group, or an associated group also sought to have events on his speaking tour cancelled.
Those involved apparently think they are doing a good thing -- fighting "Holocaust denial," "neo-Nazism," "racism," add the slur, you get the idea. The value of free speech and a free press is completely lost on this crowd. They miss the point that their methods are in fact "fascist" or "Stalinist" in nature. The desire to prevent someone from sharing ideas which oppose your own is the type of dogmatic thinking that led to the burning of heretics, the witch trials, and the extremes of National Socialism and Communism.
For these hackers and "anti-Fascists," none of this matters. They are sure that they are right. In being so right, it is fair to stop the speech of those they oppose.
They miss the point that if the only speech we defend is that which we support, then freedom is lost. It is only offensive speech or speech we disagree with that NEEDS the protection of the law.
Many years ago Huey P. Long said, Fascism will come to America,but likely under another name, perhaps anti-fascism." Today it is clear that Fascism is live and well in the United States -- brought to you by those with little understanding of what they have done.
Pedro Varela y los Delitos de Opinión en España
14 years ago
This kind of thing (legitimately) AROUSES anti-Semitism. But that's just fine with these people. What they WANT is excuses to gain CONTROL over their opposition, so the more offensive their actions, the better their purposes are served. They THRIVE on hatred and divisiveness.
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