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Speech is not violence. Words cannot injure or compel a person to hate or riot. Consequently, the state has very little business policing it, and the outcomes are usually dire when it tries. – Institute of Economic Affairs
"Speech is violence" is one of those phrases straight out of 1984's Newthink and Newspeak, along with "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength." When I was young, everyone knew speech was not violence. As children, we would say, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." It was true. Words cannot do physical damage.
In my 20s, when I wanted to eject someone who was obviously lying from a message board I was on, an older colleague and friend counseled me, "The answer to bad speech isn't to ban it. It is to respond with good speech." I saw that he was right. The way to deal with liars is to expose their lies and then mock the liars. More words, not less, are the answer.
So how and from where did the lie that speech is violence emerge? I cannot say for sure, but I have a theory on the impulses that drive it. The first is the impulse to control people. The second is an impulse to lie and do so with impunity.
Words may not be violence but words have power. They have power to persuade, to educate, to motivate. Whoever has a command of language controls that power. Lying is convenient. It allows people to shape arguments without being burdened by truth. Inconvenient (and sometimes painful) facts can be ignored, replaced by a seductive word picture.
The easiest way to refute a lie is through counterargument. It is so easy to refute lies that way, liars have no defense against it. None. Instead they must work to prevent the expression of counterarguments — and the truth. So create another lie as a counter: speech is violence. Your words are capable of causing physical harm. Therefore your words must be controlled, and the government must prevent harmful words, especially "disinformation" — words that undercut the lies.
Persuade enough people of that and you have control of ideas, and the ability to lie with impunity. It is irresistible to tyrants at every level.
Discussion (19)
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Indeed. Truth liberates. The reason that lies control so much is that people fear to speak the truth under threat of violence.
CONTRIBUTOR
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Actual violence in the form of physical injury or economic deprivation - not "speech" violence.
CHARTER MEMBER
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I think when the Democrats make their campaign theme “freedom,” they are using the Orwellian definition and counting on their voters not to understand.
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This post is part of the Ricochet Quote of the Day project to encourage members to get in the game. If you feel motivated, there are still some days left in August to sign up by clicking this link. I’ll post a signup sheet for September and the end of the week.
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When you do, put me down for the Saturdays in September. I'd appreciate that.
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