Christopher Hitchens 2006: Freedom of Speech Includes The Freedom to Hate
Hitchens eloquently reminds his audience about the origins of "shouting fire in a crowded theater" in this 2006 debate on the merits of free speech.
In 2006, the late Christopher Hitchens spoke to the University of Toronto's Hart House Debating Club to defend the following proposition: Freedom of speech includes the freedom to hate.
To begin his remarks, Hitchens describes the origins of the often incorrectly cited saying — used frequently by those who want to restrict speech — about “shouting fire in a crowded theater.”
Watch the full debate here.
This, for me, is the single greatest speech delivered by the great Hitch, and it being in defense of free speech is just… ultra satisfying. I was so obsessed and listened over and over again that I can now reproduce the entire length of the speech word-for-word off the top of my head lol.
Long live Hitch in our memories.
It's not the full debate. He says if anyone disagrees with him they can take a ticket and line up to kiss his arse. Why have you deleted that?