Sammenhold In SoCal

Why am I always the last to know?  I had blogged about Christopher Hitchens' call to arms and had wanted to do something to show my support.  Thus, I was thrilled to hear about the "Stand Up For Denmark Blogburst" sponsored by Freedom's Zone.  God bless Michelle Malkin for spreading the word and, more generally, for using her blog power to protect and defend all the things that need protecting and defending. As I'm sure she realizes, the cyberattacks on her website and the Malkin-blocking efforts of authoritarian regimes demonstrate both the power of free expression and the reason why the free world must stand up and defend it.      

On that note, I just sent off a supportive email to the Danish embassy.  Thought I'd share:

Embassy of Denmark
3200 Whitehaven St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008

To Whom it May Concern:

Please accept this message as a show of my support for the government and people of Denmark.  Denmark's resolve in standing up for the freedom of expression has been a credit to your nation and an inspiration to people around the world.

The way in which Denmark has been singled out and attacked is a reminder that fascism is alive and well and prepared to use whatever means are necessary to prevent free people from being free.  Many larger and more powerful nations have shamefully given in to the threats and intimidation, leaving it to Denmark stand up for a freedom that many fail to appreciate and seem all too willing to cast away.  Thank you for your courage, and please know that you do not stand alone.      

The modern American doctrine of free expression began with an opinion of our Supreme Court nearly 100 years ago. This doctrine recognizes that "political" speech, even if it is hateful, offensive and subversive, is the speech that is the most deserving of protection in a free society.  In order to ensure that political speech is protected, virtually none may be prohibited under American law. Thus, America has generally resisted the understandable urge to enact "hate speech" legislation.  Although I understand and respect the moral and historical foundation for all of Europe's hate speech statutes, I cannot but wonder whether these laws have outlived their usefulness and now do more harm than good.

I offer these comments, not as a "pushy" American or legal "busy body" (although I am probably both of those things), but as a freedom-loving citizen of the free world.  In that world, because of Denmark's courageous leadership, we are indeed all Danes now.

Obviously, I get a little maudlin when it comes to the basic freedoms that are the foundation of our democracy.  Let's just say I've just gotten used to having them around. Now that they are under threat from a new barbarian horde, I'm feeling especially protective.  That fact that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to give a mini-lecture and offering a word of constructive criticism about European hate speech legislation says a lot about me, I know. If I could help myself I probably wouldn't be here.