Media in the New Millennium

Posted by Lisa Metzger

I’ve been following the hot and getting hotter debate over whether or not Facebook should remove and/or disallow groups and “fan pages.” The particular ones in question have names like “Holocaust: A Series of Lies,” “Based on the facts? There was no Holocaust,” and “The Holocaust is a Holohoax.” Michael Arrington at TechCrunch has weighed in. So did ABC News and The New York Times.

Here’s the Time’s coverage:

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/holocaust-deniers-gather-on-facebook/

Despite having grown up in the rarified air of the lovely Boulder, and despite having proudly and without hesitation voted for Obama, I am not your typical left wing Democrat. I am actually for WAY LESS government. Does that make me a Republican?? God forbid.

What it does make me, I suppose, is a Civil Libertarian. I don’t believe that the government or anyone should tell us what we can and cannot believe. Obviously, hate crimes, hate speech and out-and-out illegal behavior should be punished and the government should and does indeed legislate against it. Discrimination of any kind is never okay.

But, having an opinion or a point of view, and even having thoughts or feelings that fall somewhere on the not-so-nice to full-out hateful discrimination scale, is not illegal. The Facebook debate is not about legislation. It’s about providing a public forum…for any and all…and as such shouldn’t it be a place where ideas, even controversial…and even stupid…ideas, can be expressed?

We have laws in this country against hate speech. And, certainly the water is murky at best surrounding these Facebook groups. Facebook will remove groups that express hatred towards individuals and groups that are sponsored by recognized terrorist organizations. However, as the company’s spokesman said, it does not take down groups that speak out against countries, political entities or ideas. Facebook has taken down several of the more-outwardly scary Holocaust denial groups. Only three anti-Holocaust/anti Semitic groups remain. Are these “fans” just “communing” or, as some could argue, does their very existence constitute hate speech? I am not sure. And, certainly I have to ask myself, “isn’t ‘only three’ three too many?”  Like I said, murky.

This “live and let live” attitude, though, comes with a price. If we’re going to truly embrace the freedoms of speech and self expression our Constitution guarantees, then we also have to man-up and honestly, and often uncomfortably at times, live along side people that we whole heartedly disagree with. People who make our fists clench and the hair on our necks bristle; people that repulse us, make us angry or scared or sick to our stomachs.

But, where’s the line? It’s easy enough to side with my better angels and just chalk it up to personal choices (and perhaps a brain cell deficiency) when dealing with politics or religion or war or even flag burning or wearing a motorcycle helmet…or any number of things. I’m as judgmental as the next person, believe me.

But, how deep are my Civil Libertarian leanings when it comes to something as repugnant as anti-Semitism or racism? As Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Can I (should I?) honor that belief as I read about these whack jobs on Facebook? How can I?
I truly believe that if someone wants to be a complete ass and think that the Holocaust was concocted by a bunch of Hollywood set designers and actors then they should just go right ahead. (I didn’t say I didn’t have an opinion about these groups, did I?!) Do I want it in my face, so to speak, on Facebook? Not really, thank you very much.

I am appalled by these “fan” pages (the sick irony of that classification alone makes my ick radar go off). I want them taken down. My heart and my head say they shouldn’t be allowed to post such vital on such a public forum as Facebook. Afterall, “Holohoax,” and its despicable kin, aren’t the same as some of other Facebook fan pages, like “Cheeseburgers,” “70’s Sitcoms,” “Coffee” or “Sleep” (full-disclosure:  I am a proud, card-carrying member of all of these). And, they are also different from joining a “Fans of John McCain” group.

But, in the end, I want no part of censoring anyone and their right to express, commune, befriend, and gather with others like themselves.  They should be able to speak their minds, believe what they want to believe. Even in public where I, someone who vehemently disagrees with them, can hear it if I were to listen.

The slippery slope is real. And, it’s VERY slippery and scary.

I am a member of a “Pro Gay Marriage” fan page on Facebook. As far as I know, no one has asked for it to be taken down. TechCrunch, ABC and The New York Times haven’t said a word. No one is up in arms and protesting. And, yet, I can’t think of too many topics today that are more emotionally and politically divisive than gay rights.

So, what to do? I guess I have to take my own Civil Libertarian advice: if I don’t like or approve of a TV show, a book, a religion, a person, a group of people with a certain political agenda, I can walk away. I can choose not to participate. Not in a huffy, belligerent way. Just in a “you go your way and I’ll go mine,” kind of way. I am empowered. It is, in fact, my obligation, as person who lives on a planet with billions of people and billions of ideas and beliefs and values different than my own, to do so.

I don’t envy Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. The company’s decision to allow these groups is a tough one, but despite my personal feelings, I actually agree with the position Facebook has taken. There isn’t a right or wrong answer or a solution that isn’t fraught. And, that too, is the essence of what it means to live in freedom.

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