This Letter to the Editor ran in the July 23 issue of the Waltham News Tribune.

TO THE EDITOR:

In the rush to stop hate and misinformation on social media we need to hit pause and allow some public debate, because theres another side to this issue: censorship, a violation of our Bill of Rights.

The New Left demands censorship of any statement that isnt 100% in lockstep with their program. If you dont comply, they will attack you and in some cases, destroy your life.

This isnt what might happen; this is what is happening in America today.

With the media as their soul mates, the New Left has significant power. If you think thats an exaggeration look at the record of recent years. How many lives were destroyed rightly or wrongly by the press? The answer is: all the ones the New Left wanted destroyed.

The important question we need to ask is, who is going to be the policeman in this folly? The president, congress, a committee, Mark Zuckerburg, CNN, FOX, RNC, DNC? Put all of them, and their best intentions, into one bucket and I still wouldnt trust them or anyone else on this earth with control over my speech.

Personally, I dont believe theres such a thing as hate speech. You should be free to say what you want, on any subject. You can speak volumes about the benefits of necrophilia you aint ever gonna convince me its a good thing!

There should be no barriers to the exchange of ideas, so why are people afraid to let people say what they want? Are they afraid that not everything they believe will stand up to scrutiny?

Our forefathers have proven to the world what geniuses they were and one of the most sacred beliefs they understood was a God given right: free speech. They knew anything short of that was a form of compliance, allegiance to someone elses beliefs, a form of mind control. Thats why they didnt put limitations on any speech.

The power the New Left has achieved has created a new silent majority; silent because no one dares speak or write in opposition for fear they will be publicly humiliated, labeled a hate monger.

And now we want Facebook and others to determine what free speech will be free.

One of your most basic rights as an American is at stake here; its time for you to speak out.

John Savarese

Fuller Street

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Letter to the Editor: Waltham resident calls for end to censorship - Wicked Local Waltham