Cambridge Dictionary defines a censor as a person whose job is to read books, watch movies, etc. in order to remove anything offensive from them, or who reads private letters, especially ones sent during war or from prison, to remove parts considered unsuitable. Merriam-Webster defines censorship as the institution, system, or practice of censoring.
Here is a brief summary of recent events:
- December 8, 2020: The Supreme Court of the United States of America rejected an appeal by Pennsylvania Republicans that would have blocked certification of the state’s election results.
- January 6, 2021: Rioters stormed into the Capitol, disrupting the counting of the electoral votes. The winner was to become the 46th President of the USA.
- January 7, 2021: Unilaterally blaming the President of the United States of America for the riot, Facebook indefinitely banned him from Facebook and Instagram accounts.
- January 7, 2021: Snapchat followed suit.
- January 8, 2021: Twitter also followed suit.
I am appalled by the social-media companies’ censorship of the President. Regardless of whether you are for or against the President, think about what they did, and let that sink in for a moment.
If they are disrespectful enough to do it to the President of the United States, the implication is that they can – and will – do it to anybody who disagrees with their position on any subject at any moment. They are behaving in a manner that manifests themselves to be above the First Amendment rights of all American citizens. Officials of these social-media companies were not elected and, therefore, do not represent the rest of America. Their audacious behavior must be nipped in the bud.
As of this posting, there is no way for anyone to know (1) exactly who the rioters were or (2) what their true motives were. Let’s assume the worst-case scenario that they were indeed all ardent Trump supporters. I share their pent-up frustrations wholeheartedly. By the same token, letting off steam by storming into the Capitol building or resorting to violence is never a good idea.
Above all else, I am deeply troubled by the fact that what they did ended up hurting the legacy of the President who worked tirelessly on our behalf to right the wrongs. He has been a beacon of hope for millions of us who believe in traditional American values.
p.s. Do you believe yourself to be fair-minded? If so, judge for yourself if – as the House Democrats claim – President Trump ever incited insurrection at the “Save America” rally on January 6, 2021. Here is his 75-minute speech. Fast forward the video to the 2:36:40 mark to start it. Initially, there is no sound but it will come shortly thereafter.
p.p.s. An investigative reporter points out that “Antifa clearly led the attack. That was obvious.”
