"Free speech, I fear, is in retreat."
5 minute read
ADVERTISEMENT
Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, where he warned European leaders that they need to listen to their citizens as well as uphold the Western values of citizen-led democracy and free speech. He delivered the speech from both a populist and humanist perspective, slamming those European elite leaders who quash the free speech and political action of their citizens.
These citizens, he said, are not interchangeable cogs. He humanized European and American citizens, giving their hopes and dreams value and warned Europe that to lead a people without the support of those people will lead to ruin. Those leaders in attendance did not appear to be moved by his words, with very few applauses sprinkled throughout and faces of consternation being seen every time the camera panned to the crowd.
As he spoke about Europe's defense, on which he said Europe must take a greater role, he asked the poignant question of just what Europe is defending. Does Europe know what values they are holding safe, he asked. The values that were defended during the Cold War, democracy, liberty, individualism, have been left to rot as those who believe themselves to be democratic leaders have abandoned them in favor of censorship and oppression in the name of progress. This, he said, must change.
Vance spoke about how European nations have been taking action against free speech and censoring citizens and pointed to multiple examples. He said unequivocally that the values that Europe had that won the Cold War have been tarnished. As an American vice president serving with a populist administration, his focus was on the rights of the citizens to determine their leaders, to live according to their own will.
"I looked to Sweden, where two weeks ago, the government convicted a Christian activist for participating in Quran burnings that resulted in his friend's murder," Vance said. He pointed to Romania, where a lawful election was thrown out because the elected leader did not comply with EU values and instead was interested in the values and rights of Romanians.
He spoke about close American ally the UK, where a man was charged for praying silently outside of an abortion clinic. The man wasn't in anyone's way and he was in fact grieving the loss of a baby he and his former girlfriend had aborted years before. His silent grief became a criminal matter for the courts.
"A little over two years ago, the British government charged Adam Smith Connor, a 51-year-old physiotherapist and Army veteran with the heinous crime of standing 50 meters from an abortion clinic and silently praying for three minutes. Not obstructing anyone, not interacting with anyone, just silently praying on his own,” Vane added.
"After British law enforcement spotted him and demanded to know what he was praying for, Adam replied simply, it was on behalf of the unborn son he and his former girlfriend had aborted years before. Now the officers were not moved. Adam was found guilty of breaking the government's new buffer zones law,” the man was fined for thousands of pounds.
Vance said that in Scotland, even private prayer in homes that were within “buffer zones” near abortion clinics were outlawed. "Free speech, I fear, is in retreat." Vance added, then adding that a number of people in the United States have had a similar attitude towards free speech as their European counterparts. He slammed social media companies and officials who, during Covid, silenced Americans from speaking out against the restrictions imposed on them as a result of the pandemic precautions.
He added that the Trump administration plans to stand up for free speech, whether they agree with what is being said or not and that a "new sheriff is in town" in Washington, DC. This notion, that a government and a people can respect and uphold the right to free speech even, or especially, when that speech goes against the government, is one that used to be a stronghold of the American left and has now gone wanting as that left has taken on a similar tone as European elite leaders who seek compliance rather than democratic values.
On the subject of voters and the values of democracy, Vance said that if EU nations are “running in fear of your own voters there's nothing America can do for you.”
He spoke about mass migration and the negative effect that has had on western nations at large. Vance compared the numbers between the immigrants that have come to the United States as well as Europe and spoke about crimes that have occurred as a result.
During the speech, Vance remarked in jest, "If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk."
On a more serious note, he followed up, "What no democracy — American, German, or European — will survive is telling millions of voters that their thoughts and concerns, their aspirations, their pleas for relief, are invalid or unworthy of even being considered. Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters. There's no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don't."
He warned that the European electorate does not want to open the "floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants” to come into the country. He closed, quoting John Paul the Second, saying, “Do not be afraid,” and emphasizing the leaders’ need to listen to their citizens.
Vance, who also spoke this week at an AI conference in Paris, has been diligent about upholding humanity, the rights of free people, and the need for governments to be lead by their citizens and not the other way around. When he was finished speaking, the crowd of leaders appeared visibly uncomfortable.
These citizens, he said, are not interchangeable cogs. He humanized European and American citizens, giving their hopes and dreams value and warned Europe that to lead a people without the support of those people will lead to ruin. Those leaders in attendance did not appear to be moved by his words, with very few applauses sprinkled throughout and faces of consternation being seen every time the camera panned to the crowd.
As he spoke about Europe's defense, on which he said Europe must take a greater role, he asked the poignant question of just what Europe is defending. Does Europe know what values they are holding safe, he asked. The values that were defended during the Cold War, democracy, liberty, individualism, have been left to rot as those who believe themselves to be democratic leaders have abandoned them in favor of censorship and oppression in the name of progress. This, he said, must change.
Vance spoke about how European nations have been taking action against free speech and censoring citizens and pointed to multiple examples. He said unequivocally that the values that Europe had that won the Cold War have been tarnished. As an American vice president serving with a populist administration, his focus was on the rights of the citizens to determine their leaders, to live according to their own will.
"I looked to Sweden, where two weeks ago, the government convicted a Christian activist for participating in Quran burnings that resulted in his friend's murder," Vance said. He pointed to Romania, where a lawful election was thrown out because the elected leader did not comply with EU values and instead was interested in the values and rights of Romanians.
He spoke about close American ally the UK, where a man was charged for praying silently outside of an abortion clinic. The man wasn't in anyone's way and he was in fact grieving the loss of a baby he and his former girlfriend had aborted years before. His silent grief became a criminal matter for the courts.
"A little over two years ago, the British government charged Adam Smith Connor, a 51-year-old physiotherapist and Army veteran with the heinous crime of standing 50 meters from an abortion clinic and silently praying for three minutes. Not obstructing anyone, not interacting with anyone, just silently praying on his own,” Vane added.
"After British law enforcement spotted him and demanded to know what he was praying for, Adam replied simply, it was on behalf of the unborn son he and his former girlfriend had aborted years before. Now the officers were not moved. Adam was found guilty of breaking the government's new buffer zones law,” the man was fined for thousands of pounds.
Vance said that in Scotland, even private prayer in homes that were within “buffer zones” near abortion clinics were outlawed. "Free speech, I fear, is in retreat." Vance added, then adding that a number of people in the United States have had a similar attitude towards free speech as their European counterparts. He slammed social media companies and officials who, during Covid, silenced Americans from speaking out against the restrictions imposed on them as a result of the pandemic precautions.
He added that the Trump administration plans to stand up for free speech, whether they agree with what is being said or not and that a "new sheriff is in town" in Washington, DC. This notion, that a government and a people can respect and uphold the right to free speech even, or especially, when that speech goes against the government, is one that used to be a stronghold of the American left and has now gone wanting as that left has taken on a similar tone as European elite leaders who seek compliance rather than democratic values.
On the subject of voters and the values of democracy, Vance said that if EU nations are “running in fear of your own voters there's nothing America can do for you.”
He spoke about mass migration and the negative effect that has had on western nations at large. Vance compared the numbers between the immigrants that have come to the United States as well as Europe and spoke about crimes that have occurred as a result.
During the speech, Vance remarked in jest, "If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk."
On a more serious note, he followed up, "What no democracy — American, German, or European — will survive is telling millions of voters that their thoughts and concerns, their aspirations, their pleas for relief, are invalid or unworthy of even being considered. Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters. There's no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don't."
He warned that the European electorate does not want to open the "floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants” to come into the country. He closed, quoting John Paul the Second, saying, “Do not be afraid,” and emphasizing the leaders’ need to listen to their citizens.
Vance, who also spoke this week at an AI conference in Paris, has been diligent about upholding humanity, the rights of free people, and the need for governments to be lead by their citizens and not the other way around. When he was finished speaking, the crowd of leaders appeared visibly uncomfortable.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in to comment
Powered by The Post Millennial CMS™ Comments
Join and support independent free thinkers!
We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.
Remind me next month
To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy
Comments