Freedom of speech

Submitted by meerov21 on May 23, 2019

Okay, I want to ask people at this forum. Suppose those you call rightwingers should be stripped of their right to speak. I'm not going to defend the right wing, but I have another question.

Let me ask you, who has the right to speak?

...for example, in campuses? Can I give you some examples?

1. Leninists (or Stalinists, Maoists, Trotskyites)?

2. Proponents of conservative Islam and\or militant organizations of the Islamists like Hamas, Hezbollah?

3. Critics of abortion and\or conservative Christian organizations?

4. Hillary's Supporters for global corporations and neo-liberalism?

5. Zionists?

darren p

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by darren p on May 23, 2019

Freedom of speech and the right to be given a platform are not the same thing. You’re already conflating things before you begin.

You’re not going to get a better exploration of the topic than here:
https://youtu.be/xz6TVGyQ_FA

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 23, 2019

Freedom of speech and the right to be given a platform are not the same thing. You’re already conflating things before you begin.
You’re not going to get a better exploration of the topic than here:
https://youtu.be/xz6TVGyQ_FA

I don't want to watch your movie. I asked a specific question. You can assume I asked two questions. (1) Who has the right to freedom of speech? 2) Who has the right to speak at in campuses?

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 23, 2019

R Totale Those are decisions that should be made by the workers and students who make those campuses function, surely?

On the one hand it sounds logical. From other side you never know what they will make. Maybe they will forbid black to act, or Vice versa white? Or decide to put there the KKK? Therefore, it is important the opinion of those people from whom I ask.

In addition, I can also expand this issue to include the right to speak on the street.

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 23, 2019

Another question: are you aware of the action in the 1980s when print workers refused to handle a Sun front page attacking the miners? Would you consider that to be an attack on Rupert Murdoch's freedom of speech?

I am generally a supporter of the seizure of Newspapers from the hands of any corporations and private owners. And not just Newspapers, but everything else.

Khawaga

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Khawaga on May 23, 2019

On the one hand it sounds logical. From other side you never know what they will make. Maybe they will forbid black to act, or Vice versa white? Or decide to put there the KKK? Therefore, it is important the opinion of those people from whom I ask.

Given this and in your invocation of freedom of speech as a "right" (rather than abstract principle), you are just stating the seeming necessity of the state to intervene in these matters. After all, a right is a legal concept (a liberal one at that) that only the state can protect. A peculiar position of an anarchist to take. And freedom of speech as a right, does not, as darren points out, come with a right to a platform (which is how it is legally defined).

So are you referring to freedom of speech as a state-backed right or some ethical principle?

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 23, 2019

Of course, I am not talking about the laws of the state, but about the ethical principle. Ethics and morals change in different societies, but I believe that there are ethically based fundamental human rights.

No, human rights and freedom of speech are not categories of the state. Personal freedom is the basis for any creative development. If you look at the demands of the Kronstadt rebels, you will see "freedom of speech, of the press, of Assembly" (but not for exploiters) .

I am a supporter of ethical socialism and "free labor personality", as socialists-revolutionaries-maximalists (wonderful Russian movement, close to anarchism).

I believe that the freedom of the individual is enhanced by the rights of others. Bakunin wrote that "I am not free as long as there are slaves somewhere in the world."

Bakunin wrote that the belief of the people (social lower classes) in their rights is the basis of an anarchist uprising, and if there is no such a belief , then the uprising will not lead to the creation of a new (anarchist) society.

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 23, 2019

Yes, the state also speaks about human rights and freedom and declares itself their defender, but we are not obliged to believe the bureaucracy.

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 23, 2019

"Poverty with despair are not enough to spark a social revolution. They are capable of producing... local riots, but not enough to raise the whole masses. There must be people's ideal, always historically produced from the depths of people's instinct, educated, enhanced and consecrated by number of noteworthy occurrences, severe and bitter experiences. People need a general idea of its right and profound, passionate, you might say, religious belief in this right. When such an ideal and such a belief meet with poverty, which makes people despair, then the Social Revolution is inevitable, close, and no force can prevent it."

Mikhail Bakunin

Khawaga

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Khawaga on May 23, 2019

No, human rights and freedom of speech are not categories of the state.

Yes, they are as. All "rights" are inherently legal concepts tied to the state because only a state can ensure, protect, and in the end violate those rights. It is the only institution that can take away right-wingers right to a freedom of speech. Irrespective of how right-wingers argue that this happens when colleges and social media sites refuse them a platform to speak because they can always utter what garbage they have to say somewhere else without anyone stopping them. This is why your question really is just a red herring (and an example of how right-wing discourse, used to attack and try to discredit ANTIFA, quite effectively entered both mainstream and, sadly, a lot of leftist discourse).

But things that are rights today, of course have their ethical and moral precedents (in Germanic languages there is no separate word for law and what is ethically right) and is something that Engels e.g. wrote about in Family, Private Property and the State. In those quotes from Bakunin, from the Krohnstadt rebels, there is no reference to rights (Bakunin's invocation is of what is ethically right as in "Recht"). In any case, freedom of speech, press, and assembly as rights came in the 40s, but before they were ethical and political principles.

So no, it is not an "of course" that you are not referring to the laws of the state, which is why I asked. So thanks for clarifying because otherwise the answer to your original question would in principle be "all of them" (but for Hezbollah etc), but then again, none of them because, yet again, the freedom of speech is not a freedom to be heard or to be free from others opposing you. It doesn't matter my or anyone else's opinion on whether those various groups have the "right" to speak on college campuses or on the street because, in the end, those are not decision that we can make (unless we, as a collective get together to decide that, and if that is the case and we can enforce our decisions, the concept of a right would be meaningless).

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 24, 2019

Me: No, human rights and freedom of speech are not categories of the state.

Yes, they are as. All "rights" are inherently legal concepts tied to the state because only a state can ensure, protect, and in the end violate those rights. It is the only institution that can take away right-wingers right to a freedom of speech.

Your statements are an unsubstantiated empty phrase that has nothing to do with reality. I have already quoted above from the documents of the Kronstadt rebels and i do it again ("Freedom of speech and press for workers and peasants, anarchists, left socialist parties; Freedom of Assembly and unions, and peasant associations.") https://e-libra.ru/read/250369-neizvestnaya-revolyuciya-1917-1921.html and Bakunin, which speak about rights.

Not the state, but the free community can protect the rights, as demonstrated by the Kronstadt rebels. And this is Peter Kropotkin: "Human Rights exist only in so far as a person is ready to defend them with weapons in their hands" [3]. Drawing attention to the historical experience of the peoples of England, France and Germany in defending natural rights, Kropotkin wrote that these rights "should not be begged from the Constitution", but should be "taken from battle".The law is nothing more than a piece of paper that can always be torn up or rewritten, and therefore it cannot enforce these perfectly natural rights. Only when we, realizing our power, become a force capable of taking these rights, only then can we force them to respect it." "[4].
http://kropotkin.site/pravo-cheloveka-na-zhizn

In those quotes from Bakunin, from the Krohnstadt rebels, there is no reference to rights (Bakunin's invocation is of what is ethically right as in "Recht"). In any case, freedom of speech, press, and assembly as rights came in the 40s, but before they were ethical and political principles.

Of course, Bakunin and Kropotkin talked about rights. And of course, They use some ethical sense of rights, in the same way as me ;) This is what I'm talking about two hours. And the Kronstadt rebels spoke about freedom of speech and press, freedom of assembly and unions, and peasant associations. So my topic that I opened here is called "Freedom of speech"

As for understanding the word "right": That's what the Oxford dictionary says. This word has many meanings. N 2 A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something.

with infinitive ‘she had every right to be angry’
‘you're quite within your rights to ask for your money back’
mass noun ‘there is no right of appeal against the decision’

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/right

So What story are you going to tell now?

This is why your question really is just a red herring (and an example of how right-wing discourse, used to attack and try to discredit ANTIFA, quite effectively entered both mainstream and, sadly, a lot of leftist discourse)

Your remark is an example of insane behavior of people who have long been unaccustomed to the opportunity to discuss things.

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 24, 2019

As for understanding the word "right": That's what the Oxford dictionary says. This word has many meanings. N 2 A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something.

with infinitive ‘she had every right to be angry’
‘you're quite within your rights to ask for your money back’
mass noun ‘there is no right of appeal against the decision’

So What story are you going to tell now?

Khawaga

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Khawaga on May 24, 2019

You are incapable of any nuance in discussion, whatsoever. If you actually read my post rather than just picking bits here and there, you'd understand that what I wrote says that right is both a legal and an ethical concept, that the word has different meanings. Remember, I asked you to clarify what you meant because it's sure as wasn't clear what you were talking about, Humpty Dumpty.

darren p

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by darren p on May 24, 2019

meerov21

I don't want to watch your movie. I asked a specific question. You can assume I asked two questions. (1) Who has the right to freedom of speech? 2) Who has the right to speak at in campuses?

I suggested the lecture because you don’t seem very well read on the subject. I didn’t think discussion would get very far. With regards to rights I’d suggest Raymond Geuss again:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275875361_Human_Rights_A_Very_Bad_Idea

Mike Harman

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Mike Harman on May 24, 2019

The Kronstadt rebels were demanding freedom of speech from the Bolshevik state which was suppressing it, they weren't haranguing students who didn't want to have far right speakers at their university.

Uncreative

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Uncreative on May 24, 2019

meerov21

Your remark is an example of insane behavior of people who have long been unaccustomed to the opportunity to discuss things.

Behold, the master of persuasive discussion.

R Totale

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by R Totale on May 24, 2019

meerov21

R Totale Those are decisions that should be made by the workers and students who make those campuses function, surely?

On the one hand it sounds logical. From other side you never know what they will make. Maybe they will forbid black to act, or Vice versa white? Or decide to put there the KKK? Therefore, it is important the opinion of those people from whom I ask.

Yes, if you let people make their own decisions then they may well make bad ones. That is always a risk. But if you refuse to let people make decisions about how to run their lives because they might make bad ones... well, you have the core of all authoritarianism right there.

In addition, I can also expand this issue to include the right to speak on the street.

I think those two things are quite different, and being invited to address the Oxford Union is not the same thing as standing on a street corner yelling at people; but ultimately I suppose a similar principle applies,I think local communities should be able to make decisions about what kinds of behaviours and activities they want to encourage and discourage in their neighbourhoods.

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 24, 2019

Mike Harman
The Kronstadt rebels were demanding freedom of speech from the Bolshevik state which was suppressing it, they weren't haranguing students who didn't want to have far right speakers at their university.

I'll tell you more. Kronstadt rebels demanded freedom of speech, the press. meetings, unions, and this was one of their program requirements necessary from their point of view for a new society and social revolution. It is about the ideas of the socialist-revolutionaries-maximalists, Kropotkin and Bakunin, which I quoted above. Let me also recall Bakunin's famous idea that "Freedom without justice is inequality and injustice, and justice without freedom is slavery and beastliness ." The Kronstadt uprising expressed the same ideas. However the Kronstadt rebels demanded freedom only for working people (including working intellectuals) and only for such political groups as anarchists and left-wing social Democrats. They were not going to give free speech to liberal democrats (cadets) like corporation lovers, and even to some socialist parties. This approach of social revolutionaries is possible. And if you are protecting it, I can understand that. Although, in my opinion, this approach has its disadvantages.

But the Kronstadt rebels did not give the word to the Bolsheviks associated with the Kremlin, but only those, who broke up with Lenin and his totalitarianism, and as for many of you, for example, I did not notice any attacks on the Leninists during your rallies or on campuses. )

So Yes, I understand the Kronstadt rebels, but honestly, if you allow the Leninists or Islamists or Hillary lovers to speak, then that's a different idea. That's why I'm asking questions. I like to understand the limits of tolerance.

darren p

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by darren p on May 24, 2019

meerov21

I like to understand the limits of tolerance.

Surely that depends on the context?

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 24, 2019

R Totale
Those are decisions that should be made by the workers and students who make those campuses function, surely?

Me: On the one hand it sounds logical. From other side you never know what they will make. Maybe they will forbid black to act, or Vice versa white? Or decide to put there the KKK? Therefore, it is important the opinion of those people from whom I ask.

R Totale
Yes, if you let people make their own decisions then they may well make bad ones. That is always a risk. But if you refuse to let people make decisions about how to run their lives because they might make bad ones... well, you have the core of all authoritarianism right there.

I agree. But you just evaluated the right of campus students to put there KKK as bad. So you still have a certain opinion about what students do wrong and what's good. So I can ask you the questions in my post. Do you think it's right to admit Bolsheviks, Islamists, Zionists, Hillary supporters, representatives of Christian organizations to the campuses?

I think those two things are quite different, and being invited to address the Oxford Union is not the same thing as standing on a street corner yelling at people; but ultimately I suppose a similar principle applies,I think local communities should be able to make decisions about what kinds of behaviours and activities they want to encourage and discourage in their neighbourhoods.

I agree.

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on May 24, 2019

1) Do you know the context that allows Bolsheviks or nazi or Islamists to open their mouths?
2) What about the context of campus meetings or street demonstrations?

meerov21

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by meerov21 on June 4, 2019

""In the few weeks that the Makhnovists were in Ekaterinoslav, five or six Newspapers of different directions were freely published there: the newspaper of the right SR "Democracy", the left- SR "Banner of revolt", the Bolshevik "Star" and others. However, the rights of the Bolsheviks to freedom of the press and Association were initially restricted because they themselves everywhere deprived the working classes of these freedoms, as well as because their organization in Ekaterinoslav took a direct part in the criminal invasion of the Gulyai‑Pole district in June 1919, and they should be punished severely in justice. But in order not to violate in any way the very principle of freedom of speech and Association, they were not hindered... all the rights inscribed on the banner of the Social Revolution.
The only restriction that the Makhnovists considered necessary to impose on the Bolsheviks, social revolutionaries and other statists was a ban on the creation of Jacobin "revolutionary committees" that would seek to impose their dictatorship on the people."

Vsevolod Volin (Eichenbaum), one of the leaders and ideologists of Russian anarcho-communism, a colleague of Nestor Makhno, the author of the fundamental study "the Unknown revolution".

bastarx

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by bastarx on June 5, 2019

Why has this red-brown pest been tolerated here for so long?

Juan Conatz

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Juan Conatz on June 5, 2019

The nature of rights is something that philosophers have grappled with and argued for what, millennia? I doubt anything new or original is going to be advanced by any of us here.

But, to me, I always thought that rights don't really exist outside context. it's obvious that what rights exist surely depend on who has a monopoly on violence and what they grant, whether it is a state or otherwise.

darren p

5 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by darren p on June 5, 2019

Juan Conatz

The nature of rights is something that philosophers have grappled with and argued for what, millennia?

Well not really, the obsession with the idea of individual right, specifically the idea of 'universal human rights', is definitely something of a very modern vintage.

Authored on
May 23, 2019