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The ACLU's position on free speech and the First Amendment is principled, although the recent spectacle of current ACLU leadership left us puzzled

 


 

 

 

"We Have Met the Nazis of Skokie . . ."

Presumably, the ACLU’s position on free speech and the First Amendment is educated, principled and apolitical, although the recent spectacle of current ACLU leadership declaring elements of so-called campaign finance reform unconstitutional followed by a passel of former leaders who trotted out to say the opposite left us puzzled. Free speech, like Hollywood romances, can do that to people.

Comes then a little internal dust-up at ACLU/Hawaii. If we have the story right, that state chapter was considering inviting U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to participate in a First Amendment conference specifically to debate national ACLU president Nadine Strossen on affirmative action.

At that point, the only three (self-described) "African-Americans in the Hawaii ACLU chapter" began tossing epithets and objections to the Thomas invitation. Words like "Uncle Tom," "Hitler" and "Anti-Christ" were used to describe the justice. The board decided not to invite him.

The multiple ironies of this story should be lost on no one.

Most of us, most of the time, are self-restrained in how we use our free speech rights. Those who are not so restrained — for just causes or not — provide the necessity for First Amendment protections. The First Amendment allows the speech, and those who make it are judged by those who hear it.

In this case, one wonders whether the ACLU should consider a new slogan, derived from that estimable swamp philosopher, Pogo: "We have met the Nazis of Skokie, and they are us."

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