Let us remember that a traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend. It can be so, sometimes.
J. R. R. TolkienRead
Those who call for censorship in the name of the oppressed ought to recognize it is never the oppressed who determine the bounds of censorship.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Censorship often misrepresents the desires of the oppressed, as it is usually imposed by those in power rather than by the marginalized themselves.
In this quote, Aryeh Neier highlights the irony and complexity of censorship when it's justified as a means to protect or empower the oppressed. He suggests that those advocating for censorship often do so not truly representing the oppressed, who may not agree with their restrictions. This calls into question the motivations behind censorship and illustrates that it is typically the powerful who define what is allowed, rather than the oppressed setting the boundaries of their own voices.
Themes
CensorshipOppressionFreedomSpeechPower
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on freedom of expression, one could quote Neier to emphasize the importance of understanding who controls the narrative.
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