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des États-Unis pour strasmag.com
David M. Mercer
dmercer1@att.net
La traduction en français sera bientôt disponible... |
| > Free speech rights... |
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Talk is cheap, free speech isn’t. In France there’s no such thing as free
speech—literally. Free speech in France can be expensive. Brigitte Bardot, who has been outspoken against Muslims,
homosexuals, and Frenchmen, has been fined again for “inciting racial hatred”. Recently, her book “A Cry in the
Silence”, despite its inflammatory rhetoric sold more than 300,000 copies, placing it atop the French bestseller
lists for eight weeks this summer.
In the late ‘90s Bardot, a long time critic of Islamic immigration was sued and convicted three times for publishing
statements critical of Muslims. At worst, these fines have cost her as much as 48,000 francs. Bardot’s marriage
to Bernard d’Ormale, a senior spokesman in the National Front, and comments praising Jean-Marie Le Pen has further
marked her with controversy. Although her support for Le Pen will not place Bardot in further legal jeopardy the
content of her book might. Already several civil rights groups have sued Bardot for “incitement to religious and
social hatred”. While French laws prohibit racially charged commentary, or “anything that would drive people to
racism” is it right to do so? Indeed is it moral for the government to attempt to determine the intent of thought?
Let’s look at it.
In the United States the First Amendment protects free speech. It states, “Congress shall make no law…abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press”. Simply put, American citizens are able to engage in racist or otherwise
offensive speech and often exercise these rights. The federal government is not allowed to interfere, or determine
what sort of speech is permissible. The idea is to encourage public debate, and a “marketplace of ideas”. Free
speech advocates argue the answer to politically incorrect speech is more speech. In essence they urge counter
arguments to even the most unpopular forms of expression. While I agree cultures should transmit (not enforce)
values and morals in terms of socially acceptable ideas, the marketplace ought to ultimately determine which ideas
become ubiquitous in the public sphere. In brief, government has no business limiting the free speech of private
citizens like Bardot. Although her ideas are controversial she ought to have the right to express them freely and
openly. Communication intent mustn’t matter lest democracies sanction thought police—a throwback to tyranny. Therefore,
the French courts should do the right thing and affirm Bardot’s free speech rights as essential to democracy in
France. More broadly, France should enact new laws to protect the most endangered point of view, that of the individual.
In brief, let the libertarian dream live!(1) |
| (1)By libertarian, I do not mean to reference the modern U.S. libertarian
party but rather the idea of liberty, and those who believe in free will. |
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