body-container-line-1

A Note on Principle

Feature Article A Note on Principle
JAN 11, 2021 LISTEN

My stance against the banning of Mr Donald Trump by the new Authoritarians town, (the unelected Tech CEOs, who have suddenly made it their business, and gave themselves the unfettered power to determine what the rest of us should read and see) is based SOLELY on principle. The Collins Dictionary defined principle thus: A principle is a belief that you have about the way you should behave.

First, as a writer, I am, unconditionally, opposed to any form of censorship of anyone’s opinion.

For me, there’s no ifs or buts - everyone should be allowed to say what is in his mind, and have the right to freely express himself.

Since there are many laws in the statute books to deal with utterances that crossed into the criminal territory, it should be the duty of the law-courts and not of censors to deal with the mater.

Obviously, I do not share most of Trump’s opinions and actions, but I don’t see any reason why he should not hold them.

In the course of my journalism and writing career, I have written some hard-hitting stuff that many will consider radical, even crazy.

I have never been under any illusion that everyone will agree with my views or my style of delivery. That will be the highest form of narcissism.

The question provoked in my mind is: what is it that makes me entitled to MY opinion while others cannot hold theirs?

The second reason I am so strongly opposed to Zuckerberg and co playing Thought Police is that I have a deep aversion and contempt for any form of fascism.

I studied political science (nothing scientific in it, if you ask me) and I read and learned enough about dictatorship that I don’t want any part of it.

The road to hell, we were told, is often paved with good intentions. Now that we have unelected Tech CEOs wielding powers that were unimaginable few short years ago - the right to decide what I should read and see, should not ask where it will end.

Will Zuckerberg and co. Be satisfied with their newly-found omnipotency?

It confused me greatly that some people find this acceptable.

Let me end with the immortal words of Martin Niemoller:

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out

Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Fẹ̀mi Akọmọlàfẹ́

January 11, 2021

body-container-line