Don’t censor Americans or Kentuckians
By Melissa Martin
Citizens in Kentucky, the 15th state added to the United States of America, must take a stand against past, present, or future censorship.
Let each American and Kentuckian decide what she/he wants to read by using critical thinking skills. The citizens of America and Kentucky are not illiterate, stupid, or unable to make choices on what they decide to believe or not believe after they read and research any topic – hot button topics included. The same goes for videos and films on social media platforms via Internet.
Big techno businesses, please do not make that choice for us with censorship.
Citizens in this great country have a right to read about what any and all politicians (conservative or liberal) voice about any issue. Do those in power actually believe we cannot make our own informed decisions? Do they think we need to be protected and shielded from opposing viewpoints? And just why would they think at this time in history – that Americans and Kentuckians would welcome being censored?
“Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are “offensive,” happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional,” according to the ACLU.
Newspapers (print or digital), social media sites, books, and all public communication vehicles must be allowed to publish both popular and unpopular reports and stories. Owners, publishers, boards, and top dogs must not stifle, repress, or ban any type of information, knowledge, or news. And government officials, politicians, and representatives certainly must not censor what the citizens can and cannot read concerning the coronavirus pandemic.
“Make no mistake; censorship of thought, ideas, and speech are the hallmarks of a totalitarian state and will inevitably lead to tyranny and oppression. Given the growing power of mainstream media and especially big tech, our ability to access accurate information, our freedoms and ultimately our democratic institutions, are all in peril,” proclaims Caren Besner, Sun Sentinel Correspondent in a recent editorial.
Why do scientists with expertise on a virus think they can censor what American citizens can and cannot know? Expertise on any subject matter does not quality for allowing censorship in a democratic society – anytime, anywhere, anyhow.
Big government, please do not make that choice for us with censorship.
“Who rules in America? Is it a handful of unaccountable elites, who concoct and enforce standards arbitrarily? Or is it the American people?” asks Brooke Rollins, President and Chief Officer, America First Policy Institute.
Let each individual in America and Kentucky read about conspiracy theories, opposite opinions about COVID-19 or whatever topics they choose. Again, Americans are not unwise, illogical thinkers, or uneducated. Let the people decide!
Kentuckians, write Letters to Editors of newspapers in your city, county, state and beyond. Contact Kentucky government representatives, both local and state. Initiate respectful conversations with family, friends, and neighbors about censorship and freedom of speech. Participate in peaceful demonstrations. Support organizations that proclaim freedom of the press and freedom of speech for America and Kentucky.
Let the people decide!
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Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author and opinion-editorial columnist. She lives in the Tri-State area of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
Freedom of information is critical if the information is not demonstrably false or, if it is, is presented with the objective evidence that experts in a field reasonably believe to be true. If your argument was valid we would never have banned snake oil cures such as mercury laced tonics or regulated heroin as medicinal. It is naive to believe every human being can acquire and possess enough information to validate claims and make reasonable choices. If we allowed each individual to make independent choices in all cases we would still have polio victims in iron lungs and smallpox ravaging families.
Censorship by anyone, including governments is their way of trying to hide facts, such as Communism an example, which gags those who rebel or speak openly. Many of the people wanting to close off access to free speech rights are the same individuals who want to implement a self-motivated agenda, even if they are wrong.
Let each individual in America and Kentucky read about conspiracy theories this right here shows its not censorship look at Qanon and how much damage thats done to people. If you give power to the people spreading misinformed opinons for the same of censorship is bad, you propgate the lies of those who truly want power over individuals that is a cult like mentality when you believe all information even that which is demonstratiably false is valid, its not we need to censor the lies cause thats the only way the truth can win, if one person believes truth and 10 people believe a lie the 10 people are gonna spread that lie faster than the one person can spread the truth. censorship is a hot button word to propgate a culture war mentallity said mentality has no place in a civilized nation, the problem here is less about censorship and more about stopping the spread of misinformation, thats the thing about facts, they don’t care about your opinons they are truth and thats what needs to prevail, the issue of communism is the exact opposite of this, they censor truth to spread more lies, we need to censor lies to spread more truth. as for the case of freedom of speech, that does not mean you are allowed to say whatever you choose anywhere you choose, it simply states the government cannot take action against you for said speech, but companies that are not government controlled do not have to give a platform to people who wish to spread inconsistencies.
The problem with censorship. About a year ago if you said on social media covid come from the Wuhan lab of virology you were banned and/or your post removed. Yet today it remains the most likely cause. On some social media if you say ” there are only 2 genders” it can get your post flagged for hate speech and removed. If you get on social media and say “take HCQ or another antiviral” it can get you banned, post removed, or that little verbiage at the top about misinformation. Again the problem with censorship is what those in the position of power deem to be true, just might not be what is actually true. Or it may be the truth which they wish to hide. The simple answer is social media are supposed to be platforms not overseers of the “truth”. You should have the freedom to say whatever. That neither makes it true or without consequences. It’s up to you to educate yourself on what is true. Our trust in this country in the news is telling enough about censorship. As partisan reporters and news outlets on both political sides fail in reporting the whole truth without bias. I agree with the article. Once they start censoring the lies they quickly start censoring the truth. Censorship is not a good thing but freedom of speech is.
That’s exactly what Trump has done in fact we have seen his results on January 6 2021 that’s the first step if not stopped NO more democracy we will have a Dictator.
We don’t live in a democracy idiot. America is a constitutional republic.
How’s this Charley “That’s exactly what Trump has done in fact we have seen his results on January 6 2021 that’s the first step if not stopped NO more constitutional republic we will have a Dictator.”
ABC,CBS,NBC,MSNBC all censor their news. If its problematic for their views or aganda you will not hear it from them.
Trump 2024
Has CBS,NBC,ABC reported on The University of Penn. transgender(male) swimmer breaking all women swim records? Winning all competitions. Hows this for womans competition.? You wont hear a word about this from your main stream media. Just a matter of time until women sports are dominated my males. The NCAA is going along with this just like the Biden administration. Theyre actually promoting it. I suggest if you want unscreened news stop watching the above named news outlets.
It makes me sick. There are too many KAG”s in this world who support this garbage.
I take issue Ms. Martin with Americans and Kentuckians, they are the same.