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There are countries where there is terrible tyranny over the truth being said. One of the things the US most prides itself on is freedom of speech - and it's far better here, but it's under attack and prevented at times.
- Some Americans are concerned about some of Israel's government's actions, and much as was done with boycotting South Africa to try to end apartheid, they want to support boycotts and divesting in Israel to pressure their government for changes.
But there are American political forces restricting Americans' freedom to do that - such as passing laws that ban any company that has supported such a boycott from any government contract, and other measures attempting to silence the speech criticizing the acts.
- The meat industries in the US can have some horrific conditions. If people are made aware of the truth, they might react ranging from supporting regulations to lessen animal cruelty that cut into profits, to choosing to eat less meat.
As a result, the industry has donated to politicians to get what are named 'Ag gag' - Agriculture free speech gagging - laws passed, which criminalize filming the businesses and exposing the truth.
- China has a terribly tyrannical government dominated by propaganda and censoring the truth. In order to get that government to allow profiting from China, the government demands and receives propagandistic and censored behavior from many American companies.
Companies are constantly censoring their products, such as movies, to fit any demands of China's propaganda; never critical of the government. Celebrities who have made criticisms of things like oppression in China have been greatly pressured by their American companies to apologize to the Chinese government, and anyone involved with China knows to censor what they say.
I'm reminded of this as I see the launch of trump's platform which will allow and encourage unlimited lying about his political enemies and other things like Covid - but bans telling the truth about trump.
One of the biggest attacks on the truth isn't censoring, but promoting lies to drown out the truth - like the way China's propagandists try to attack and smother critics with their own shills. Like the Russian social media projects for our elections to spread misinformation and increase divisions.
Efforts to protect the powerful from the truth are ancient, such as going back to the fable about the emperor's new clothes when none dare tell the truth. In today's technology, repression is more possible than ever before.
We should all be wary of protecting Americans' right to free speech, as we already have improper violations of that right happening.
- Some Americans are concerned about some of Israel's government's actions, and much as was done with boycotting South Africa to try to end apartheid, they want to support boycotts and divesting in Israel to pressure their government for changes.
But there are American political forces restricting Americans' freedom to do that - such as passing laws that ban any company that has supported such a boycott from any government contract, and other measures attempting to silence the speech criticizing the acts.
- The meat industries in the US can have some horrific conditions. If people are made aware of the truth, they might react ranging from supporting regulations to lessen animal cruelty that cut into profits, to choosing to eat less meat.
As a result, the industry has donated to politicians to get what are named 'Ag gag' - Agriculture free speech gagging - laws passed, which criminalize filming the businesses and exposing the truth.
- China has a terribly tyrannical government dominated by propaganda and censoring the truth. In order to get that government to allow profiting from China, the government demands and receives propagandistic and censored behavior from many American companies.
Companies are constantly censoring their products, such as movies, to fit any demands of China's propaganda; never critical of the government. Celebrities who have made criticisms of things like oppression in China have been greatly pressured by their American companies to apologize to the Chinese government, and anyone involved with China knows to censor what they say.
I'm reminded of this as I see the launch of trump's platform which will allow and encourage unlimited lying about his political enemies and other things like Covid - but bans telling the truth about trump.
One of the biggest attacks on the truth isn't censoring, but promoting lies to drown out the truth - like the way China's propagandists try to attack and smother critics with their own shills. Like the Russian social media projects for our elections to spread misinformation and increase divisions.
Efforts to protect the powerful from the truth are ancient, such as going back to the fable about the emperor's new clothes when none dare tell the truth. In today's technology, repression is more possible than ever before.
We should all be wary of protecting Americans' right to free speech, as we already have improper violations of that right happening.
