Fox News contributor and legal scholar Jonathan Turley took the Ashbrook stage on Wednesday, Oct. 23 to make a scholastic speech on the First Amendment. Students, faculty, and visitors listened in while enjoying the catered lunch, served in the John C. Myers Convocation Center.
This event was titled, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage,” and is a part of the Ashbrook Center’s Fall 2024 Major Issues Lecture Series.
The title derives from Turley’s recently published book. Released in June of 2024, Turley’s emphasized that we aren’t in the age of rage, but rather an age of rage since there are phases. His first point on free speech was that rage is addictive; negative speech is alluring because it allows unfavorable emotions to be expressed and sometimes brings people together.
He attributes these next words to James Madison by saying, “He calls it ‘The monster. . . These crackdowns on free speech come when we’re really afraid, when we’re really angry, and we release the monster. . . free speech is one of those things that is easier to admire from a distance
Turley went on to explain that people have been censored for ages and many turn a blind eye to all that are still being silenced in today’s age. He said this age is different than the past. Society has the media now, disinformation, many defenders of free speech, and what he described as “speechphobics.” These are known to Turley as people in favor of keeping children away from graphic, triggering topics in school.
Turley put emphasis on humans needing to express themselves.
Turley is the Shapiro Professor of public interest law at George Washington University. He garnered the interest of the high school visitors in the back of the room, and anyone else who relates, by honing in on a moment he had with his college students.
“I walk around the class until I find a student doodling,” Turley said. “And this is usually an embarrassing moment. I always have to say, ‘Are you doodling?’ and a freakout [happens], ‘Professor, I was listening.’ And I say, ‘Of course you were listening, I have no problem with doodling! We all doodle!’ That’s the point. We doodle at weddings, we doodle at funerals – We all doodle.”
He explained doodling as something weird that connects anyone who has ever picked up a pen. We do it and don’t realize it, and we draw in odd shapes. Turley questioned this.
Regarding a story about the starving artist, Vincent Van Gogh, he explained that the artist used the last of his money to buy canvas instead of food. “To be truly human, we have to express ourselves,” Turley said.
Humans share 98% of our DNA with great apes, 65% with fruit flies, and 60% with bananas. The difference is the development of the frontal cortex. Turley explained this part of the brain is vital for expression; making thoughtful relationships, growing in communication, and being able to project yourself into the world.
The main point of the speech of Turley’s talk was humans are hard wired for free speech and there is no use at silencing expression.
“It’s not working,” said Turley. “This is the most dangerous anti-free speech period in our history. There is a massive movement that has swept over Europe. Free speech is in a freefall. In Great Britain, France, Germany – They’re arresting people in England for giving silent prayers. . .Well, what is that? That’s like a ‘Thought crime’.”
The conclusion of the speech was that censorship has the opposite effect than its intention. Turley explained that not one case of censorship has ever worked in shutting down an idea, but instead has harmed people in the process.
“It’s free speech that defines us, and that’s why we’re going to win,” Turley said. “The government, and corporations and the media can reduce your appetite for free speech, but they can never get rid of your taste for it. . . You can’t kill free speech without killing us.”
