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Has everyone forgotten that America used to do things like imprison anti-war protestors?
You fight for free speech for everyone because you may find that you are the person being targeted by the state for unpopular speech.
Basically yes. The left has now become the war party, it’s the right that has more anti-war protestors so it’s totally cool to censor them now.
Another is that we should support democracies everywhere. This coming from the super power that has meddled with other countries and overthrown more democratically elected governments than any other.
These are really BS reasons. Why do you feel it is in the best interest of the US? Especially considering that Ukraine is way more important to Russia than it is to the West, they are willing to fight tooth and nail for it, and possibly risk nuclear war. Is it really worth it?
It doesn't have to be either or, multiple of these arguments can apply or partially apply.
> Why do you feel it is in the best interest of the US?
I mostly agree with the state department, their statement can be found here: https://www.state.gov/united-with-ukraine/
To summarize what I think is important:
- We should support sovereignty, as you said. As the US should be against slavery today though they were for it in the past, poor decisions don't make you a hypocrite when you take the correct course of action in the future.
- Ukraine is a somewhat ally of the US, though not in NATO. You support your allies.
- A weaker Russia is good for the US, especially a weaker Putin. Putin and Russia are not neutral with their actions against the US.
- Appeasement doesn't work. You may be correct that Ukraine is more important to Russia than Ukraine is to the west, but it was the same with Poland and Germany during WW2. Things change, but appeasement doesn't work. And before you say that was a long time ago, appeasement already did not work with Russia with Crimea.
- The US did win the cold war. The soviet union failed. This was much due to the same tactics being used today with Ukraine: containment and deterrence.
- Not good to encourage countries to invade each other.
See my previous comment on why.
Honestly, there are many possible reasons to justify making such distinctions. The most obvious is that campuses are explicitly intended to be venues for free speech and debate among diverse views, while a bake shop is intended as a venue for the free expression of only the baker.
Compelled action, versus compelled inaction. One requires you to force someone to do labour to further a cause they disagree with, the other requires you to stand aside and not physically prevent people from expressing themselves the way they want.
Seems pretty clear cut and easy if you ask me.
"The American right's inability"
free speech !== discrimination
The argument is, as I understand it, self-expression even in the form of discrimination is protected. If it's not, then that leaves 1A venerable.
The foundation left by the Founders is complicated. Yes, sometimes that looks like hypocrisy. Similar is the left's anti-gun / pro-abortion stances.