Free Radio New Orleans

The big question on everyone’s mind in New Orleans is how to engage in a process of inclusive dialog so that we, as citizens of a devastated city, can share our values and make the best choices among difficult options. It’s a question of how to be as inclusive as possible of groups whose perspectives and experiences may differ, while remaining respectful of each other, and cohesive as a group, with an appreciation of the virtue of a shared purpose of greater dialog in our community.

The virtue of open dialog as a requirement for resolving difficult policy debates in the rebuilding of New Orleans should be apparent, but in case we’ve lost sight of the merits of open forums for debate, we might be recall that there is a long history of philosophical arguments which conclude that freedom of expression and open debate inevitably lead to true ideas prevailing over false ideas.

“Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter” (John Milton, Areopagitica, 1644).

John Lilburne, a prominent Leveller during the English Civil War, made appeals for religious tolerance and freedom of the press in printed pamphlets, arguing that differences of opinion were essential for good governance, and that censorship “fitted only to serve the unjust ends of tyrants and oppressors.”

“As for any prejudice to Government thereby, if Government be just in its Constitution, and equal in its distributions, it will be good, if not absolutely necessary for them, to hear all voices and judgments, which they can never do, but by giving freedom to the Press; and in case any abuse their authority by scandalous Pamphlets, they will never want able Advocates to vindicate their innocency. And therefore … to refer all Books and Pamphlets to the judgment, discretion or affection of Licensers, or to put the least restraint upon the Press, seems altogether inconsistent with the good of the Commonwealth, and expressly opposite and dangerous to the liberties of the people.”

We are asking that our wish to create the space for the discussions we need to have be granted.

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