Freedom of Speech

“I disapprove of what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it”. This famous quotation, usually – but incorrectly – attributed to the pioneering Enlightenment-era philosopher Voltaire, neatly sums up that great libertarian principle of ‘Freedom of Speech’. And it shouldn’t be controversial, enshrined as it has been, for over 70 years, in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19). Yet even today, under totalitarian regimes the world over, it’s still too dangerous to speak one’s mind in public.

But freedom of speech is now facing challenges in liberal democracies too. From its roots in the largely benign concept of ‘PC’ (political correctness), the threat morphed into the more socially-charged ‘Woke’ culture, which has bred violence on our streets, persecution of dissenting individuals (especially academics), and culminating in the cruel sanction of ‘cancellation’ – which denies them a platform, and all too often ends their careers. Add to that the often overblown accusations of double-standards (with regard to enforcement) increasingly being levelled by pressure groups against their national Governments, the Police, and/or the Judiciary, and it’s clear that freedom of speech is in trouble. So, at this month’s meeting, we’ll examine the issues involved, and how they might be addressed.

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