There are two seemingly unrelated occasions — Israel’s conflict on Gaza and the killing of Charlie Kirk — that immediate me to write down this letter. The cost of antisemitism is used to stifle characterizing Israel’s conflict on the Palestinians as genocide. The decision to finish the Israeli conflict and produce house the hostages is proclaimed as siding with Hamas.
In an analogous approach, any criticism of Charlie Kirk’s ultraright positions is seen as condoning his dying and it’s used to silence considerate critics of his reactionary message.
This kind of censorship we see from the Trump administration is now getting used to shut-up Jimmy Kimmel, sue The New York Occasions and pull funding from NPR. These techniques are harmful.
The freewheeling dialogue of concepts is important to a wholesome democracy — and that features criticizing the political positions and actions of others with whom we disagree. It’s extra crucial now than ever to guard the proper to free speech.
Chris Smith, Seattle
