One of the great things about freedom of speech is that by extending it to everyone we can identify the lunatics as soon as they open their mouths. And one of the best things about the internet is that it extends freedom of speech so freely and universally that everything everyone says is immediately available for critique, rebuttal and derision.
Compare and contrast, for example, Melanie Phillips' insane rant claiming that teaching children about the child-rearing habits of penguins will turn them gay, with Johann Hari's beautiful and impassioned plea for tolerance. Phillips has been derided sufficiently elsewhere. Hari's column should be read by everyone.
Once upon a time, people limited to reading a single printed newspaper might have been exposed only to the original rant. Free and universal access to the counter-point exposes it for what it really is.
(Photo by xrayspx on Flickr)
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