When Censorship Becomes Normal

Key Concepts

• Censorship: The suppression of speech, public communication, or other information.
• Social Media Power: The increasing influence and control of social media platforms.
• Deplatforming: The removal of an individual or organization from social media platforms.
• Shift in Military Training (AIT): Changes in the methods and boundaries of military training, specifically Advanced Individual Training, due to increased scrutiny.
• Free Speech vs. Safety: The tension between allowing open expression and preventing harmful content.

Censorship and Deplatforming in the Current Climate

The discussion centers around the perceived increase in censorship and the chilling effect it has on free speech, particularly in the context of social media. The speaker notes that even former President Donald Trump, a personal friend, was “shut down” despite having “said some stupid things.” This deplatforming, alongside broader censorship practices, is presented as a concerning trend. The speaker explicitly states support for the right to hold radical political views – “You can be a radical left. You can be a Marxist. You can be a communist. You can be it's a free country” – but argues that this freedom is being eroded. The situation is contrasted with Iran, where voices were suppressed, leading to later unrest.

A key argument is that Republicans were unprepared for the power of social media, allowing platforms to exert significant control over the narrative. The speaker acknowledges their own involvement in the “business” of social media, highlighting the irony of now “walking on eggshells.” The speaker directly asks if others share their fear of expressing opinions online, specifically mentioning reluctance to “tweet” or post on YouTube. This fear is framed as a consequence of the current climate of censorship.

Parler and the Targeting of the Former President

The example of Parler, a social media platform that was taken offline, is specifically cited as evidence of this trend. The speaker emphasizes that the actions extended to “the president of the United States,” reinforcing the idea that no one is immune to censorship. This point is reiterated with the statement: “They come after the president of United States and you know Donald Trump’s a good friend of mine and he said some stupid things but they shut him down too.”

The Changing Landscape of Military Training – AIT

The conversation shifts to a seemingly unrelated topic – the evolution of military training, specifically Advanced Individual Training (AIT). This transition serves as an illustration of increased scrutiny and limitations on authority. The speaker recounts a conversation with Nicholas Irving, “the first African-American sniper from the third…battalion,” who achieved “33 confirmed kills in 100 days in Afghanistan.”

The anecdote focuses on a comparison of AIT experiences between the speaker (1997-1999) and Irving (2010-2014). The speaker notes that drill sergeants had significantly more latitude in their methods during their time in the military. When discussing this with Irving, the speaker discovered that drill sergeants today face much greater oversight, with certain actions that were previously acceptable now being prohibited. The speaker states, “drill sergeant could do this to you, that said, drill sergeant can’t do that right now.” This illustrates a shift towards greater accountability and restriction of power within the military training system.

Logical Connections and Synthesis

While seemingly disparate, the two sections are connected by the overarching theme of limitations on expression and authority. The censorship discussion highlights external constraints on speech, while the AIT anecdote demonstrates internal constraints on authority within a structured institution. Both examples suggest a growing trend towards increased scrutiny and a reduction in the freedom to operate without oversight.

The main takeaway is a concern about the erosion of free speech and the increasing power of institutions – both social media platforms and the military – to control narratives and limit individual expression. The speaker’s personal anecdotes and the specific examples of Trump’s deplatforming and changes in AIT training serve to underscore the urgency of this concern.