One of the fundamental arguments used by the Founding Fathers in favor of free speech was that the truth will always win in the light of day. This argument was first articulated in 1644 by English poet and intellectual John Milton.
Milton was most famous for writing “Paradise Lost,” but he also wrote a document arguing in favor of free speech which was titled, “Areopagitica.” Milton argues that if the people in power are correct in their arguments or information, they should have no fear of people saying something that is inaccurate or false – because the truth will always win.
That argument from 1644 is just as relevant today when talking about Big Tech censorship of memes, coronavirus theories or the truth about what happened in that darkened hallway between Joe Biden and Tara Reade. Bet you didn’t know that the arguments for free speech dated back so far in history!
Oh, and here’s a meme of the Stranger Things girl with laser eyes and her restaurant sign, which is endlessly reusable for memes.
