Frederick Douglass once called free expression “the great moral renovator of society.” Movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo depend on people openly sharing their experiences. But in times of social turmoil, there’s often an impulse to pull back on free expression. We face a choice: We can stand for free expression, understanding its messiness but believing that the long journey toward progress requires confronting ideas that challenge us. The second challenge to free expression is the internet platforms themselves—including Facebook. Someone once told me the Founders thought free expression was like air—you don’t miss it until it’s gone.

Source: Wall Street Journal October 17, 2019 18:11 UTC