Chains of our own making
By: Sean Small
Tags: Principles, Censorship, Ethics, Free Speech, Civil Rights

Chains of our own making

“With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored… the first thought forbidden… the first freedom denied – chains us all irrevocably.”

Star Trek: TNG - The Drumhead

One of the interesting aspects of science fiction is its ability to present ethical questions faced in the real world using fictional storylines. This allows the issues to be tackled directly and freely without having to speak on the actual situations and be restricted by concerns of appropriateness.

While it might be silly to those who don't watch the series, Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future has been a good platform to express various issues. One of the more famous episodes was from ST:The Next Generation season 4 episode The Drumhead.

In the episode, a witch hunt commences with the best intentions but goes too far. Minor infractions are used as an excuse to expand inquiries beyond a reasonable scope.

“The road from legitimate suspicion to rampant paranoia is very much shorter than we think.”

Star Trek: TNG - The Drumhead

One of the defences against judicial overreach is freedom of speech. Especially as fair criticism and opposition in good faith can be possibly construed as disloyalty, subversion or sedition. While you might think such extreme interpretations are not likely, the truth is history has shown that for the sake of a cause, people can become overzealous to the point where they prioritize their immediate concerns at the cost of other ethical considerations.

This is why principles are important. When done correctly, they act as a safeguard in cases where the right thing might not be as obvious. Society and technology is never stagnant. As new issues appear we must be ready to face the questions that comes with them and have an answer with how to treat with it, as opposed to being stagnant out of fearing change.

“We cannot take a fundamental principle of the Constitution and turn it against a citizen!”

Star Trek: TNG - The Drumhead

Currently politics around the world seems to be very hostile. Competing ideologies seem less inclined to talk through their differences and more inclined to win. Historically we have seen societies descend into maddness. From the McCarthyism trials to the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, to the laws of the Jim Crow South. In each case, the rule of law was subverted in order to deny the rights of others. Without the ability to openly criticise the government, such situations are nearly impossible to stop.

Currently, there are activist who seek to censor hate speech. The problem is that it is not easy to regulate communication. Language is ever evolving as culture evolves as well as the technology we use to communicate evolves. And eventually each restriction will come back to haunt us. Will potentially come back to deny the rights of a new emerging class of disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

In some ways it has already begun as the interests of various oppressed groups begin to clash over their ideological differences. Hence the new term trans-exclusionary feminist. Do we restrict their speech if deemed hateful to the otherside? Or do we let both sides speak freely and hope they can work out their differences? Imagine only listening to what you want to hear? How do you resolve any conflicts you might have with others? How do you learn anything new? Just about every person I have seen act like this seem to be doomed by their own stubborness. And they only really have themselves to blame.