Derek Stirling Kerr

blog post 8 from the way back machine – 18/06/20

Well, hasn’t this become one of the most controversial topics in recent times, especially in the current turbulence engulfing the globe. The extremism expressed through blatant censorship can be found everywhere, be it in the UK, USA, Australia, or almost anywhere else I would wager. Admittedly the most shining examples of censorship are to be found within communist, fascist & authoritarian countries, like China, Turkey, Venezuela & Iran, to name but a few.

But it has become increasingly obvious in many supposedly more democratic countries also. There have been escalating efforts in the UK, USA & Australia for example, to censor freedom of speech, through both governmental efforts as well as through media outlets. You only have to look at what kind of speech is or isn’t allowed for that to be blatantly obvious. Black Lives Matter supporters seem permitted to say whatever they like, whilst being allowed to attack any opposing view. Many main stream media outlets are demonstrating the same approach, sacking or ‘encouraging to leave’ any and all who might present an argument in conflict with extremist liberal/socialist perspectives.

Now, I’m not writing this post to go into depth about what’s overwhelming the world at the moment. I’ve no plan to list a broad range of examples. There are enough online already requiring minimal effort to discover.

My particular focus here regarding freedom of speech & what a restriction of that, in various ways, can do to a person, is a personal one. I’m not a psychologist, a behavioural analyst, an ‘expert’ of any sort of such matters. My own experience & my perception of it are all I really have. And I know, that compared to millions (or perhaps billions) of people around the world, my own circumstances are what they might consider a dream alternative to what they themselves have gone through. The suppression of speech & so much more in many countries is abominable. So none of what I have to say is any effort to speak on their behalf. Nor am I attempting to provide a solution. This is just me, sharing my perspective, based on personal experience, and too much time for thinking. The most I might expect, is that some of what I say resonates.