Soap Bubble Public Spheres
Southern Appalachian Field Notes:
Entry:
I am reading about a bookstore in California that is being forced to move it's location because it hosted Drag Queen Story Hours. Went to their website and added some things to the cart. Books and supporting a socially just book seller. Win and win.
Where are all the free speech absolutists and NYT articles discussing that giving air to fascism was a really, really bad idea? During my time at Purdue it seemed like an endless argument with clueless liberals that "free speech" including hate speech, fascist groups, and harassment was a bad idea.
However, liberals often took the bait and argued that all speech needed to be protected and if that speech turned out to lead to dangerous actions then they would fight that. There was this brief lived argument that if Trump created a "Muslim registry" non-Muslim liberals would go and register as Muslim. Well, fascism is a growing and menacing force in the US. LGBTQ folks are being targeted with death and threats. The so-called "Muslim ban" went into effect and was supported by the Supreme Court. Roe v. Wade has been overturned, and women face uncertain criminal charges for merely having reproductive systems.
How many are going to now dress in drag and confront the Proud Boys? Or convert to Islam and try to travel? Maybe go to an abortion clinic or offer now illegal aid to the oppressed women of numerous states? Fuck. I'd settle on the latter day free speech absolutists just hanging a sign that says "will aid and abet abortions" in an anti-abortion setting.
I am not looking for virtue signaling here, nor is anyone else. The paltry signs of resistance we give only highlights the real issue of ongoing oppression. My point is this-- free speech absolutism is often the refuge of the liberal coward. Instead of combatting fascism, shutting it down in that moment, liberal discourse proponents think clever verbs and zinging nouns are enough to stop Jim Crow Jesus and little boys proud of their hate.
It's not. It never has been. It never will be. Words are powerful to be sure, but words can also be weak. Justice is not apolitical because injustice is a partisan stance in this grand ol' republic of ours.
Someone was telling me recently that at JSU we lit up the library with the pride colors once for pride month and it only took ond board member to complain to stop it.
Freedom of speech that tolerates unfreedom is no ally to liberty. This idealized public sphere folks talk about is so many soap bubbles.
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