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

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