Pray For & Defend Freedom of Speech

[Thinker]

Please defend freedom of speech and pray that more will defend freedom of speech. As Jordan Peterson suggested after decades studying sociology, what we see now, in censoring any speech that the powers to be don't like, is the beginning of tyranny. It's a path we don't want to go down. But we can't be apathetic about this! We need to actively defend this right of freedom of speech!

For many years, liberal ideologies have dominated public universities. University staff have not invited or made excuses to cancel speakers with views university staff don't like. Many are creating "safe spaces" to "protect" students from hearing viewpoints they don't like. Media is obviously become so biased it's difficult to know the truth. Ben Shapiro is scheduled to speak at Berkeley next week. Then a week later, Ann Coulter, Milo Y & other conservatives are scheduled. Earlier this year, mobs went crazy causing fires and had dangerous weapons, yet police were told to stand down, because - heaven-forbid - someone with non-liberal views was going to speak. Trump threatened to withdraw funding so hopefully they'll be more workable. Still, this right of free speech needs to be defended. So, please pray to know how best you could do your part.

[Thinker]

Prank guy sees if any Yale students will sign petition to remove free speech. Surprisingly within an hour, he got over 50!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EJoVzxAd0e0

CAUniversity may institute rule against microagressions - comments that could be intentionally or unintentionally offensive to a minority group.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i_4-BqSIUD8

[Thinker]

Quotes:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
— U.S. Constitution

“Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins. Republics…derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates.”-B Franklin

“If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.”-B Franklin

“If men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences that can invite the consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter.”
— George Washington, 1st U.S. president

“Freedom of conscience, of education, or speech, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should freedom of the press ever be successfully challenged.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd U.S. president

[Thinker]

Ben Shapiro is speaking at Berkeley today. I hope and pray it goes well.

[Fiannan]

Curtail freedom of speech and see how long before they make "religious soliciation" illegal and pretty much put a stop to our missionary program.

[Thinker]

Curtail freedom of speech and see how long before they make "religious soliciation" illegal and pretty much put a stop to our missionary program.

Good point - hadn't considered that possible consequence.

[Thinker]

Please keep praying & doing what you feel impressed to do to defend freedom of speech!

Next week, is Free Speech Week at Berkeley and many who are defending free speech are up against opposition - not just Antifa mobs, but also Berkeley itself (trying to make any excuse to cancel it), despite it being a government-funded institution.

[David13]

I listened to Ben Shapiro's talk at Berkeley the night he gave the talk.
What an impressive analysis of the current political climate.
dc

[Thinker]

I listened to Ben Shapiro's talk at Berkeley the night he gave the talk.
What an impressive analysis of the current political climate.
dc

Yeah, I really like Ben Shapiro. I especially found interesting this clip about how to debate leftists' emotional reasoning etc: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q79yQquKq7M

🗣

Jordan Peterson: Giving up free speech & the death of Western civilization (fascinating analogies from Pinocchio story). Jordan Peterson has defended free speech even in the face of people threatening him with his job for not using illogical words they wanted him to.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vhNrznG0-r4

Today was supposed to be the start of Free Speech Week at Berkeley, but administrators have made excuses not to host people they disagree with. Some have said they will speak anyway - in the open. I'm praying for them.

[Joel]

I especially found interesting this clip about how to debate leftists' emotional reasoning etc: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q79yQquKq7M

emotional reasoning certainly needs to be viewed with skepticism

The neural circuitry involved in feeling religious experiences has been identified. Brain regions associated with reward lit up when devout Mormons said that they were "feeling the Spirit". The brain areas that responded included reward circuits that respond to romantic love, appreciation of music, cocaine and methamphetamines.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/ ... 16.1257437

[Thinker]

Joel,
I get where you're coming from about emotional reasoning - it's a common cognitive distortion & logical fallacy. It's one (of 13) I'm working on. I remind myself that feelings come & go, I can't assume others feel as I do nor that I'm responsible for others' feelings, & that feelings do not indicate facts.

Still, "a rich life is one with rich feelings." Emotional intelligence (managing emotions well to stay motivated & relate well with others) has been found to be more of an indicator of success than IQ.

There's this cool exhibit at BYU about emotions in scriptures. But one thing I found concerning was the many more entries of God as hateful rather than God as loving. I've come to see God as individually interpreted, though there has been some traditional inheritance & collective unconscious aspects. Essentially we do not think of or describe God as God (Ultimate Truth/Pure Love) actually is, but more as we are at that moment.

"Functional illusions are priceless." All we think is subjective- so we might as well have our thoughts - & related e-motion - work for us rather than against us. So while it can be hell to be ruled by emotional reasoning... it can be more like heaven to use emotion to motivate & inspire us for the highest GOoD.

[Joel]

Thanks for sharing

I've come to see God as individually interpreted

Very true

A podcast that I enjoy that you may also is the You Are Not So Smart Podcast ....its all about cognitive distortions & logical fallacies.

[James-T-Prout]

The Freedom of Speech is closely aligned with every other freedom enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

Remember the Bill of Rights was specifically called for by several of the States representatives as the 1st order of business as soon as the new Congress met after the Constitution was in action.

Unfortunately, because the people have "some" enumerated rights: right to assemble, right to bear arms, right to freedom of religion, right to privacy, etc....
The Federal Government has now trampled on all things that were not enumerated, which were to remain the rights of the people and the States.

Yet, they are also specifically trampling on almost all of the enumerated rights in the Bill of Rights as well.

The freedom of Speech is connected to almost all the other freedoms of man. What can we do if we can't speak with other about it? (privately or publicly).

There will come a time, as shown in prophecy, that the Constitution will be restored again, as at the beginning.

We know when that time will be. There will be much heavy slogging to get there....but the end result is a freedom loving people living under a government specifically by the people that respect the rights of minority views under law. As that is what a Republic of laws is supposed to be.

See the difference between Oligarchies, Democracies, and Republics here:
https://www.lastdaystimeline.com/oligar ... emocracies

[Thinker]

Jordan Peterson explained how speaking up (even when it's risky & you get criticized) will help develop your character and self-respect.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I5y19Vapk1A

[Dave62]

Please. People in America. I've said it before, and I'm saying it again. It is NOT liberalism that is our enemy, it is a particularly vicious strain of neo-Marxism in an unholy alliance with Post-Modernism that hates Western liberalism. I don't care is every 325,035,464+ of you call it liberalism, it is not. Call it something else, ok?

[lundbaek]

As I have stated previously on this forum (and elsewhere), I believe one big reason the Church authorities are not talking about freedom/liberty, the Constitution, and secret combinations/conspiracy is because of concern about retribution by the globalists that would hinder the Church's missionary and building programs. and perhaps worse.

I can remember past LDS prophets and apostles talking and writing about these things, but that slowed to a trickle after 1988.

[David13]

Please. People in America. I've said it before, and I'm saying it again. It is NOT liberalism that is our enemy, it is a particularly vicious strain of neo-Marxism in an unholy alliance with Post-Modernism that hates Western liberalism. I don't care is every 325,035,464+ of you call it liberalism, it is not. Call it something else, ok?

I suppose to some people, or myself at least, it seems you are trying to separate the pepper from the fly specks.
dc

[Dave62]

You are quite right David, but I must go down fighting at the very least!

[friendsofthe]

Has anyone beside myself noticed how offensive or negative posts against the Church on Facebook are seldom countered by those of us who believe? For example I have a brother who loves to blame the Church for all his woes… I sometimes notice his like-minded friends piling on but have hardly ever seen anyone take him on.

I personally don’t see the need to start a family feud and at the same time don’t want to waste my time and energy arguing with an idiot…

[skmo]

Please. People in America. I've said it before, and I'm saying it again. It is NOT liberalism that is our enemy, it is a particularly vicious strain of neo-Marxism in an unholy alliance with Post-Modernism that hates Western liberalism. I don't care is every 325,035,464+ of you call it liberalism, it is not. Call it something else, ok?

I suppose to some people, or myself at least, it seems you are trying to separate the pepper from the fly specks.
dc

One of our country's greatest liberals is Thomas Jefferson. Were he alive today, the people in the democratic party would be calling for his death. True "liberalism" has been co-opted in our country by some sick individuals.

[skmo]

Please defend freedom of speech and pray that more will defend freedom of speech. As Jordan Peterson suggested....

This guy is an absolute monster when it comes to why America is failing today (odd, since he's Canadian.) Google has already tried to shut him down, I have no doubt they'll do so again.
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[skmo]

It is NOT liberalism that is our enemy, it is a particularly vicious strain of neo-Marxism in an unholy alliance with Post-Modernism that hates Western liberalism.

This guy does a great job of explaining this:
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[David13]

Please. People in America. I've said it before, and I'm saying it again. It is NOT liberalism that is our enemy, it is a particularly vicious strain of neo-Marxism in an unholy alliance with Post-Modernism that hates Western liberalism. I don't care is every 325,035,464+ of you call it liberalism, it is not. Call it something else, ok?

I suppose to some people, or myself at least, it seems you are trying to separate the pepper from the fly specks.
dc

One of our country's greatest liberals is Thomas Jefferson. Were he alive today, the people in the democratic party would be calling for his death. True "liberalism" has been co-opted in our country by some sick individuals.

Yes, but you might not understand my comment.
Who would Jefferson have voted for in the last election, were he alive today?
Who DID the 'classic liberals' vote for in the last election?

Conclusion: Unless the liberals, the classic liberals, or all the liberals abandon the Democratic (neo socialist/communist) Party, then they are part of the problem we see, rather than part of the solution. And then it doesn't matter if they are pepper or fly specks, they still are on the wrong side of the equation.
dc

[skmo]

Who would Jefferson have voted for in the last election, were he alive today?

My guess would be the same one I chose, Dr. Ben Carson. As for the November vote, I would guess he'd vote, in a horrified fashion, for Trump. The choice was horrible, but since it was a choice of R, D, or immaterial, he would have voted for the one who was the less damaging narcissist.

[lundbaek]

Who would David O. McKay, J. Reuben Clark, and Ezra Taft Benson have voted for in the 2016 elections ?