I make no aching bones about it, with regards to a lot of folks within our community, I’m an old.  I’m closer to five decades on this planet than four.  When I first got into Paganism, it was the early to mid-90’s.  The internet was still in diapers, and by no means was it the ubiquitous creature that has come to dominate our lives.  The phrase social media was simply not a thing.  My research into paganism came from books in small, out of the way, occult shops, or Barne’s and Noble.  That’s right kids, B&N wasn’t just a coffee shop with books.  It was a store that primarily sold books!  The point being, I grew up in a time when Paganism wasn’t nearly as accepted as it is now.  Being a pagan was certainly not something people were generally fond of back in the day, even in places one might consider more tolerant.

Which is why, I am flabbergasted at where the backlash is coming from over Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to replace “fact checkers” with community notes.  If Facebook existed thirty years ago, I would have expected the old white hairs on the Religious Right to be the ones wielding pitchforks and coming unglued over the lack of censorship.  Instead, today we have members of the LGBT, Feminist, and Pagan communities leading the charge for compelled speech, and social media censorship.  So why does this bother me so?  Because not so long ago our right to free speech, to free worship, and to peacefully protest was the very foundation of what allowed us to be who we are today.

Make no mistake, that wonderful trifecta is why women and African Americans can vote.  It’s same sex marriage is no legal.  It’s why we can worship the Gods we wish, or none at all.  Which is why I find the actions of those within our community, and others so depressingly fucking stupid!  The very thing we used to get to where we are is now being villainized, and why?  So, people can’t offend you or call you names?  Sorry, but give me a fucking break!  Y’all need to pull your heads out of your collective arses and come to realize that compelling people’s speech is a potentially deadly double-edged sword. 

Without the protections given to us by the First Amendment, speech becomes nothing more than propaganda for those in power.  Power shifts, just look at what happened this last November 5^th (I bet a lot of liberal politicians are thanking their lucky stars they weren’t able to kill the filibuster right now.).  Is it really worth a few hurt fee fees to hand the people wanting to control us a metaphorical loaded gun?  Are your pronouns so important that you’re willing to potentially risk your own safety in the future?  Yes, free speech has its drawbacks.  People can be absolute dicks.  They can spew racism and homophobia, and their harp seals can cheer them on like the slack jawed retards they are.

But you know what?  Free speech also gives you the right to fight back.  To expose their ideas for the garbage they are for all the world to see.  Back before all this censorship sewage came out of the pipes, that’s how we did things.  The internet was full of people saying stupid shit, and plenty of folks were ready and willing call them on it.  And that, my friends, is the way it should be again.   There’s an old saying; “the best disinfectant is sunlight.”  By discouraging free discourse, you’re not helping your cause.  You’re sticking your head in the sand because you’re so afraid of being offended, or God’s forbid proven wrong.  Don’t run from free speech, embrace it.  Use it for good.  Let the people speak so their ideas can be aired, and disproven if they’re found wanting.  It’s time to thicken that skin and be ready to both counter the stupidity and be willing to accept the flaws that may be shown in your own world view.  That’s what a healthy community does.  That’s how real hatred dies.