"Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway.”  ―Eleanor Roosevelt     
Welcome To Kindergarten

Wasn't free speech protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

background-image: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 
click  image or here to see the text in a larger document 

Too much to say about free speech and the lack of it these days, Welcome To Kindergarten is my response to a very tangible limitation of it, as in the 'Index of Forbidden Words' Stanford University released in May 2022 as part of what they call the 'Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative'. It made the news late December '22 and this, as well as the list itself, was made public. For example by the Wall Street Journal | Opinion on December 20, 2022 (published online December 19th) in the article 'The Stanford Guide to Acceptable Words. Behold the school’s Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative.'

The words I used in bold are on this index.

I, and many like me, am the kind of person who cares about others, who sees everyone as valuable and important: no one more special than any other, who values truth and integrity above everything, but even we ―and at times it seems mostly we ―are the ones being (actively) silenced* in today's world. Simply because we don't agree with the way we are being forced into an invisible straight-jacket that is pulled tighter almost by the day. We are those who have seen and are baffled about how much isn't adding up in any way or supported by the actual data (not the kind that is presented), or said and backed up by science performed or researched by what have always been the renowned experts on whatever the subject.

I understand the wish for a more inclusive, unified world and less of what divides us and to find ways in order to do that; in fact, it's what I've been doing since I was a child in the (modest) ways I was able to. What we have been seeing with much of today's activism and what we now know as cancel-culture is sadly doing the opposite: it creates more division while it doesn't solve anything. I have made a video on this subject from my view that I think may offer a different and down-to-earth perspective to this concept while I'm also compassionate to where others are or may be coming from. If you wish to, you can watch it here (it doesn't specify anything since I created it for IG in 2022, that is ―like most (social) media platforms these days ―heavily censored and I wanted to reach the ones who I think need to see it the most)

'Lies, in all of their clever disguises, will always divide while truth naturally unites'
―Monique de Koning (more of my quotes)

* with one of several of my personal examples is my account on Rumble was hacked and a video I made and published mid-2020 for YT that I also published on Rumble late 2020/early 2021 (titled 'Justice & Truth Matter'. Basically, an olive branch with powerful footage of examples that show we are not as divided as we may seem, as well as an appeal to not use violence when seeking justice or equality; and how that doesn't even make sense) was removed and replaced by a 6 minutes cut of another video of mine on there (that I don't even have a file of (so only the first 6 minutes of that fully edited video)). Unfortunately, due to technical issues and not being able to access my network/server, I have not been able to put back the original one there or post it here. For anyone who still believes it's 'dangerous content' being removed, because this is what is we are being made to believe, in my own case and that of many others it is the exact opposite: it's the kind of content that would actually wake up and inspire many to stop fighting and to see what we've been blind to and to find better ways that will actually make us better, safer and (truly) healthier and more balanced individuals, as well as collective (it's all connected). Think about why that would be. Who benefits from a population that is and remains divided? What can be done when we are all focused on unimportant details, sides, digital and virtual activities, worlds and realities; differences and labels instead of what unites us? In psychologically abusive relationships it's to control the person, to limit them as much as possible from seeing or talking to loved ones and friends using plausible sounding reasons and narratives (likely filled with lies but some of it will  be true and make sense). Making a trusting or influenceable  person believe they not only not really have a choice, but it's because the other person only want the best for them, even if it doesn't feel right or what they want. Think about it, please. The future of humanity hangs in the balance of our willingness to see what's going on and to say 'no' to anything that doesn't allow us to be free and or united.

And yes, free speech is  protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: