that article link to what happened in Montana was a fascinating drill down into all of the tangled issues that come to play in hate speech. Thanks for sharing, I hadn't known that story. And also that trail--I want to go! Love that!
I wondered if there was a connection between Abigail and Phillis. Abigail being a supporter of women rights and knowing they both lived in Boston at the time. Anyway, I found that article and thought you might like it.
Yes, the Anglin case was what I was referring to below. It was brutal, no two ways about it, and a stark demonstration that speech of that kind causes physical harm in several different ways. I think a lot of people (maybe mostly those who’ve never been affected by it) can’t really grasp that. I only got a tiny splash of the hate that was going around, but it was personal and at least helped by people who knew me and my family. I didn’t sleep much for months. And again, it was barely anything compared to what the Jewish community in town went through.
What an interesting history! I had no idea of much of this. The quotes from The Female Taller are right on point, aren't they?
I've seen and experienced first-hand the physical real-life harms that absolute free speech in the way you're describing (as a tool to silence the oppressed or marginalized) causes. I never want anyone to have to go through that. The history you're unspooling here is important, so we understand how truly little of this is new, and where it comes from.
Those quotes--yes! I'm so sorry about what you went through, and what the Jewish community went through in that article. Hate speech and harassment is so damaging, and the mental toll it takes never seems to be ok to talk about with regard to free speech--because free speech becomes such an emblem of individual freedom. It's the FIRST amendment. And that should be a good thing in an ideal equal world. But oof. I find the history of ideas like this always leads to the insidious ways that our world was built through white supermacy and misogyny....
Actually, Anne Helen Petersen did one of the best and most comprehensive reports on that case when she was still at BuzzFeed. Not sure if it’s still up since BuzzFeed just announced it’s shutting down. 😕 But yes, all of that. A lot of what most people think of are just standard universal ideals are like algorithms—everything that went into them is in a black box and not all of it was good.
Notes - just no interest in going there.
Lots to think about - is free speech under attack from free speech?
Antonia has firsthand knowledge of this infamous Montana event:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201903/should-hate-speech-be-free-speech
As you always pique my curiosity, I found this for you to enjoy. Remarkable women, these two.
https://bwht.org/ladies-walk-tour/#:~:text=Although%20we%20have%20no%20record%20of%20them%20ever,from%20one%20another%20during%20the%20Revolutionary%20War%20period.
that article link to what happened in Montana was a fascinating drill down into all of the tangled issues that come to play in hate speech. Thanks for sharing, I hadn't known that story. And also that trail--I want to go! Love that!
I wondered if there was a connection between Abigail and Phillis. Abigail being a supporter of women rights and knowing they both lived in Boston at the time. Anyway, I found that article and thought you might like it.
The trail’s a nicer note, though—I lived in Boston for a couple years and walked those parts frequently, especially when we had visitors!
Yes, the Anglin case was what I was referring to below. It was brutal, no two ways about it, and a stark demonstration that speech of that kind causes physical harm in several different ways. I think a lot of people (maybe mostly those who’ve never been affected by it) can’t really grasp that. I only got a tiny splash of the hate that was going around, but it was personal and at least helped by people who knew me and my family. I didn’t sleep much for months. And again, it was barely anything compared to what the Jewish community in town went through.
so maddening. I'm so sorry that was something you all had to go through.
What an interesting history! I had no idea of much of this. The quotes from The Female Taller are right on point, aren't they?
I've seen and experienced first-hand the physical real-life harms that absolute free speech in the way you're describing (as a tool to silence the oppressed or marginalized) causes. I never want anyone to have to go through that. The history you're unspooling here is important, so we understand how truly little of this is new, and where it comes from.
Those quotes--yes! I'm so sorry about what you went through, and what the Jewish community went through in that article. Hate speech and harassment is so damaging, and the mental toll it takes never seems to be ok to talk about with regard to free speech--because free speech becomes such an emblem of individual freedom. It's the FIRST amendment. And that should be a good thing in an ideal equal world. But oof. I find the history of ideas like this always leads to the insidious ways that our world was built through white supermacy and misogyny....
Actually, Anne Helen Petersen did one of the best and most comprehensive reports on that case when she was still at BuzzFeed. Not sure if it’s still up since BuzzFeed just announced it’s shutting down. 😕 But yes, all of that. A lot of what most people think of are just standard universal ideals are like algorithms—everything that went into them is in a black box and not all of it was good.
that’s a perfect metaphor for it. sad about buzzfeed--just crazy.