Re:Our nation cannot censor its way back to cultural health
by scotty79 on Monday February 07, 2022 @06:03AM
(#30243118)
What was too little too late was not the freedom of speech, but laws against anti-Semitic expressions. They were too limited and mellow. Goebbels was sentenced for anti-Semitic expressions which didn't stop him at all.
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Re:Our nation cannot censor its way back to cultural health
by zozbot234 on Monday February 07, 2022 @06:26AM
(#30243307)
The fact that those laws were even on the books is in itself notable given that, again, anti-Semitism had largely been endorsed by previous governments.
And it wasn't just Germany either. Remember the Dreyfus Affair? That was in France pre-WWI. Dreyfus was framed by the authorities for a crime he did not commit, and initially got a life sentence before widespread public opposition led to a reopening of the case and ultimately to his exoneration. This whole ruckus shows that the very idea that anti-Semitism was something that should be opposed could be considered radical and anti-authoritarian at the time even in "civilized, developed" La Belle Époque France, never mind Germany! The mindset was wildly different from what we'd expect today.
Re:Our nation cannot censor its way back to cultural health
by bavell on Monday February 07, 2022 @07:30AM
(#30243878)
You're ignoring entirely the devastating economic impact of the treaty of Versailles and claiming it was all about free speech. Totally off the Mark ;)
Re:Our nation cannot censor its way back to cultural health
by scotty79 on Monday February 07, 2022 @10:20AM
(#30245995)
I never said it was the only reason. Free speech is a tool. Generally wonderful invention, like a knife. But when wielded by wrong people in troublesome contexts it helps them in achieving disastrous goals. Along with plenty of other tools.