The Political Animals cover image

The Political Animals

Linguistic tyranny: the fight for free speech, with Brendan O'Neill

Jul 6, 2023
Brendan O'Neill, journalist and Chief Political Writer at Spiked, discusses free speech, cancel culture, linguistic tyranny, and the Orwellian assault on reality in Western societies. Topics include the boundaries of free speech, copyright and the right to be wrong, the progressive view of education, the limitations of 'cancel culture', propaganda's impact on truth, the rise of pronouns and the trans movement, the perversion of cultural ideas, and the importance of free speech and making moral judgments.
01:26:51

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • Cancel culture represents a dangerous encroachment on freedom of speech, where authorities seek to redefine reality itself through coercive measures and censorship.
  • The demand to use incorrect pronouns and validate ideological falsehoods undermines the pursuit of truth and risks eroding the foundations of a civilized society.

Deep dives

The Insidiousness of Cancel Culture

Cancel culture is a term often used to describe the phenomena of individuals being ostracized or penalized for expressing unpopular opinions or challenging dominant narratives. However, the term itself fails to capture the seriousness and depth of the problem. Cancel culture represents a dangerous encroachment on freedom of speech, where authorities seek to redefine reality itself. This includes the redefining of biological facts, such as suggesting that a woman can have a penis or that men can get pregnant. These delusions are increasingly being embraced by the establishment and enforced through coercion and censorship. The consequences are far-reaching, from denying women their own spaces and privacy to eroding the very principles of reason and truth. It is a form of tyranny that requires pushing back against and defending the right to express and defend reality and truth.

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