First Baptist Church of Austin
Free My Free Speech
RECEIVED Sun., Oct. 29, 2023
Dear Editor,
As journalists you should be utterly embarrassed and deeply ashamed for using the words "moderated" and "free speech" in the same sentence. [“How to Suck as Much as Count Muskula,” News, Oct. 27] If it's not free speech for everyone, including Nazis and racists, it is by definition not free speech. And if you don't know this blatantly obvious, journalism 101 fact, you should pack your bags, shut down the Chronicle, and banish yourself to an island where you can do less harm to First Amendment rights than that ignorant, fascist mindset does. Shame on you. "Content moderation" = censorship, pure and simple.
You don't have to agree with what other people say. But short of incitements to violence, you have to honor their right to say it.
As journalists you should be utterly embarrassed and deeply ashamed for using the words "moderated" and "free speech" in the same sentence. [“How to Suck as Much as Count Muskula,” News, Oct. 27] If it's not free speech for everyone, including Nazis and racists, it is by definition not free speech. And if you don't know this blatantly obvious, journalism 101 fact, you should pack your bags, shut down the Chronicle, and banish yourself to an island where you can do less harm to First Amendment rights than that ignorant, fascist mindset does. Shame on you. "Content moderation" = censorship, pure and simple.
You don't have to agree with what other people say. But short of incitements to violence, you have to honor their right to say it.
Kristin Casey
