A Message of Free Speech from Athens

A moment of inspiration on the Pnyx hill in Athens leads Dr. Benedict Beckeld to record this message about free speech.
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[@jebjeb1498]

Thank you for showing the original hallowed ground of free speech and how the Classical Athenian democracy left us an unconquerable legacy if we continue to defend it.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

My pleasure, thank you!

[@HolyGround777]

This message sure is encouraging in times like this. When ever I get stuck in a loop of anxiety of our current moment in time I just try to think back of history. I think about how pretty much every generation has thought, for one reason or another, that they would be the last humans. I acknowledge that the world did not start with me and definitely will not end with me, after acknowledging this moving forward feels more manageable. Now like you said this doesn’t mean that I don’t get worried about the mass psychosis emerging in the West. Quite the contrary, because I know history I also have a rough idea of what existing in different societies is like. Based on the historical examples available to us we know some societies are simply more comfortable than others. I would prefer to live in a time of social harmony, decency and respect and all of this is predicted on major pillars of our society such as free speech. Just keep up the good fight Dr Beckeld!

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Yes, there is a certain self-glorification in the idea that one is living at a special, unique time, whereas the truth, as you suggest, is in fact that these problems we have are, while real enough, nothing new. And thank you for your encouragement!

[@agrameroldoctane_66]

Unfortunately generation of our children does not comprehend concept of freedom and is actually fighting against freedoms. How this happened is a mistery to me.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

That's true, unfortunately. But - if I may toot my own horn - I talk about how it happened in my upcoming book "Western Self-Contempt". Fukuyama also discusses it a bit in his "The End of History".

[@elijahnixey-paton925]

I know i am only 1 person, but i am 16 years old and learning about freedom and the effects of totalitarianism. We have a way to go from here but the future of freedom rests on the shoulders of those in my position. I'm also in a Facebook group with nearly 500 other young people who are freedom seekers.

[@martinpospisil3747]

Decades of Marxist brainwashing in school did its job.

[@sean_connors]

Thank you. The reminders of the persistence of our shared values over eons demonstrates that the work never ends. We are human beings, small, flawed and imperfect, yet we strive for perfect goals. Sadly we enter a time where we will seemingly again resort to the ultimate manifestation of our imperfections. Never before have we entered such a time with weapons holding the sum-total capability of complete planetary surface destruction. It seems the wisdom of Dr. Fermi’s hypothesis may be proven, then lost again to the arrogance of another small species. Perhaps it is our self-imposed destiny, as we can never seem to learn and comprehend the greater lessons of our history, nor implement the core aspects of our various spiritual teachings.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

You're welcome, and thank you for your comment. I agree that we're pretty much stuck in perennial repetition of history.