Letter to the editor: Free speech is critical

Why would anyone oppose a social media platform supporting free speech and open debate? Unless of course your position is indefensible and can’t withstand scrutiny, or maybe you’re intentionally hiding facts to achieve an agenda; otherwise it makes no sense. The censorship and disinformation we’re now experiencing is antithetical to intellectual freedom. Ask yourself, why would someone fear the truth?

Bring every hot-button topic into the light of day and have all viewpoints discussed and debated with supporting evidence and testimony. The current climate of deception, censorship, propaganda and name-calling makes it extremely difficult to reach factual conclusions.

Since it seems the Fourth Estate no longer upholds its vital tradition of keeping government in check and the mainstream media is entirely captured by corporate and governmental powers, an open source for information and debate is critical.

Have public discussions on immigration, race, gender, religion, climate change, vaccines, voting issues, public education curriculum, crime and punishment, abortion, guns, privacy concerns, drugs, free speech and so much more. Nothing should be off the table.

Stop the yelling, screaming, name-calling and vitriol and sit down for an adult discussion in a moderated format with facts checked and evidence presented. Then let discerning, critically thinking people arrive at well-reasoned conclusions. And we can still agree to disagree in a respectful manner.

Elon Musk has some crazy science fantasies about Neuralink brain implants and colonizing Mars, so let’s pray he’s serious about restoring Twitter as a platform for free speech. Our time is quickly running out.

Steven Crichley

Carrick