As civil liberties have been constrained in the name of a “war on terror” even the free press has found itself gagged. (And not just traditional media but bloggers too.) The Economist concludes a four part review of civil liberties with a discussion of the rationalisation of controlling free speech even though for national security. As the quote in our title intimates (from Thomas Jefferson) we do not believe there is any excuse. The review is particularly poignant because the First Amendment of the US Constitution guaranteeing free speech has been tarnished during by the current administration with unsubstantiated claims of “protecting national security” which seem more like “protecting the administration”.
Jefferson’s quote continues:
The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary—to keep the waters pure.
Let the truth be free.
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