One of the practical lessons inculcated by the history that has now been released is that no duty is more certain, none more important, than a free and fearless expression of opinion by all persons, on all occasions. No wise or philosophical person would think of complaining of the diversities of sentiment it is likely to develop. Such diversities are the vital principle of free communities and the only elements of popular intelligence. If the right to utter them is asserted by all and for all, tolerance is secured, and no inconvenience results. It is probable that there were many persons in 1692 who doubted the propriety of the proceedings at their commencement, but who were afterwards prevailed upon to fall into the current and swell the tide. If they had all discharged their duty to their country and their consciences by freely and boldly uttering their disapprobation and declaring their dissent, who can tell but the whole tragedy might have been prevented? and if it might, the blood of the innocent may be said, in one sense, to be upon their heads.
Charles W. Upham
Salem Witchcraft, Volume 2, originally published in 1867
When I published it I was expecting hundreds of comments of admiration for the wisdom and language of Mr. Upham; I was expecting the above to be put as a slogan on the Opednews desktop… I got no response. NADA. Looks like some people still believe in witches.
b) Tell it to the dead.
In the 1960s Trofim Lycenko, the notorious Stalin’s scientific pogromist who personally snitched on many scientists wrote an open letter to the Russian scientific community saying that he ‘just had some ideas to discuss’ and that ’that what he was doing all his life and was ready to debate those any time’. Academician Volkenstein replied dryly that ’No argument and no debate are necessary. Comrade Lycenko could benefit from the basic science and literacy courses’. I guess some folks on Opednews would defend the Lycenko’s freedom of speech. Tell it to the dead people: Chayanov, Vavilov, Koch, Milovich, thousands of those who died because of him.
3. Slutty eyes.
I was watching the SAG rewards Red Carpet and there was something bothering me. Then my mother-in-law came in and said, ’Why is that they all have such slutty eyes?’ That’s what was bothering me: Slutty eyes.
4. Idea.
This word is becoming one of the most abused in the US; right after Love. Ideas, ideas, everyone has an idea, everyone wants to promote one. But here’s something from Dmitri Mereshkovsky, ’Those abstract ideas, they crush the skulls of some very real people and spill real blood.’
5. The Jewish things.
a) Israel is the only country in the world that discusses the 'Jewish question’ and works for the ‘final solution’. Imagine that we have a Gypsieland and that govt would claim all the world Gypsies to be its constituents. Or imagine South Africa constantly discussing the ‘black question’ in the US. Even Vatican works on the religious basis. Israel works on the ethnic origin.
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