The Good Fight Caitlin Flanagan on Free Speech and America’s Future
Oct 9, 2021
Caitlin Flanagan, a staff writer at The Atlantic known for her sharp essays on topics like motherhood and higher education, shares her insights in this engaging discussion. She reminisces about her formative years in 1960s Berkeley and the birth of free speech movements. Flanagan critically explores the evolving attitude toward free speech, warning against current restrictions. The conversation also delves into the decline of intellectual courage in academia and the need for diverse ideas, highlighting the complex dynamics of free expression today.
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Growing Up in Berkeley
- Caitlin Flanagan grew up in 1960s Berkeley during the Free Speech Movement.
- She witnessed protests, sit-ins, and even the showing of gay pornography as acts of rebellion.
The Importance of Discomfort
- Free speech is essential even when it's uncomfortable.
- Hearing opposing views, even if vile, strengthens one's own position and reinforces democratic principles.
Nazis in Skokie
- The American Nazi Party's planned march in Skokie, Illinois, sparked outrage.
- Flanagan's father, however, supported the ACLU's defense of their right to march, highlighting free speech principles.