Op 29/04/2020 om 16:59 schreef Norbert Kern:
> Thomas de Groot <tho### [at] degrootorg> wrote:
> 
>>>
>> I understand your worries although I am (still) fairly optimistic about
>> this. Being born in 1946, I certainly watch with some misgivings the
>> ease with which far-right opinions are openly distilled into the public
>> arena nowadays (not much far-left movements left it seems, comparable to
>> them). This was almost unthinkable forty years ago. In itself, this is
>> proper democratic functioning, giving a platform to all opinions. And
>> yet, there is always the danger of the balance tipping too strongly to
>> one side, especially in a time when historical awareness is dimming;
>> with the exception of these very days when 75 years of peace in Europe
>> are celebrated. An achievement in itself, considering our troubled history.
>>
>> I cannot refrain from this: :-)
>> [quote from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/voltaire/#Lib]


>> this dictum with his name remains very powerful, and one still hears his
>> legacy invoked through the redeclaration of this pronouncement that he
>> never actually declared. Part of the deep cultural tie that joins
>> Voltaire to this dictum is the fact that even while he did not write
>> these precise words, they do capture, however imprecisely, the spirit of
>> his philosophy of liberty.
>> [/quote]
>>
>>
>> --
>> Thomas
> 
> 
> I like theses words too, but they need context.
> 
> By examole - between WW2 and nazis "every" opinion was allowed in germany.
> Extremists from left and right took advantage from this freedom.
> Since WW2 a well-fortified democracy was introduced with a very important
> difference - Don't be tolerant to the intolarants.
> I personally thought, this can hold up for a long time.
> 
> But since about 20 years this has changed - (intolerant) politicians use it to
> discredit other opinions for ideological reasons and most media don't challenge
> it anymore.
> 
> It's frustrating, but liberty isn't a fundamental value - it needs context.
> 
> Norbert
> 
> 
Thanks for putting this in perspective. You are absolutely right and my 
own experience too.

-- 
Thomas

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