Newspeak, Hate Speech, Offensive Speech, what about Free Speech?

Many recent headlines the last few years have concerned the attempts at government to control speech. Special interest groups and classes of people that want a special status in society are pressuring the government to control, deny, and even punish speech that they find hateful or offensive. But what about free speech?

In his book When a Nation Forgets God, Dr. Erwin Lutzer describes George Orwell's concept of Newspeak, "In Oceania, George Orwell’s chilling totalitarian state in the novel 1984, we have a compelling description of how the so-called Ministry of Truth used a subtle, sinister language, 'Newspeak,' to brainwash the people. The slogan of Oceania, was 'War is peace; freedom is slavery; ignorance is strength.' The New Thought Police were able to control the ideas that determined the political and moral views of the culture."

He goes on to describe how Hilter and the National Socialists (Nazis) used Newspeak and Thought Police (in much greater detail than quoted here), "When Hitler starved children, he called it putting them on a 'low-calorie diet.' And the extermination of Jews was called 'cleansing the land.' Euthanasia was referred to as 'the best of modern therapy.' Children were put to death in 'Children’s Specialty Centers.' Hitler’s cronies seldom said they were going to kill people; even when plans were made to exterminate millions, the leaders spoke only in abstract slogans such as 'the final solution.'"

He then notes the parallels to Politically Correct Newspeak in America today (in much greater detail than quoted here), "No one speaks of killing pre-born infants. Rather, pregnant women are only removing 'a product of conception' or a woman is simply 'terminating a pregnancy.' Politicians speak of being in favor of 'a woman’s right to choose …' but they seldom complete the sentence. Somehow to say they are in favor of a woman’s right to choose to kill her preborn infant, is too honest, too clear—we might add, and too chilling."

Free speech and open debate are essential to a healthy society. The alternative is very ugly.

Watch this 33 minute documentary.

When a Nation Forgets God by Dr. Erwin Lutzer

abortion | pro-choice

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