White Nationalists. Neo-Nazis. Alt-Right. Their views are repugnant. I hope all of you reading this post agree with me. I don't want to hear the hate they spew. And if they all just "disappeared," I'd be fine with that.
So if Facebook wants to take down their posts, fine. Same with YouTube. Same with Snapchat, Twitter or any other social media platform. Deny their permits for marches and rallies. After all, who needs them? I'm sure 99% of humanity would agree.
Orthodox Jews. Their New York communities are the epi-center of a severe measles epidemic. We can discuss the value or dangers of vaccines, and most of us believe that vaccination is valuable. So as long as their measles stay in their community, I'd be fine with that.
So if local officials want to fine them for spreading the disease amongst the general populace- why should we complain?
Therein lays the problem. It is easy to demonize groups with which we disagree. Racism is an easy one because their opinions are reprehensible. Orthodox Jews are easy because they are a minority of a minority. If a few people are deprived of their Right to Express their views, as long as the majority approves, well, democracy is served.
Except democracy is not served.
When Americans start turning on other Americans, we need to worry. These are easy examples because the supression of their views is popular. That is not to say that we must agree with their views. But to silence or force majority opinions on others is not the way. For the racist, the marketplace of ideas will win. For the Orthodox Jew or others opposed to vaccines- that is the right to the self-determination. When we start shutting down opposition, we must begin to worry that our "opposition" may be next. When they came for the Jews....
