The John Adams Society

Jason D. Hoffman

Chairman

David W. Downing

Secretary

G. Larry Colson Jr.

Chief Whip

Marina Wolff

Chancellor

SEPTEMBER 2017

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

HISTORY HAS PROVED there are times when the threat is so great, a people cannot continue giving lip service to so-called "freedoms." Existential threats from civil war, world war, communism, or fascism are too severe. We must do what needs to be done – even at the executive level. Today, men and women of good conscience will agree that it’s time to say, "Enough!" and stand against those who espouse hatred toward their fellow man. Such talk cannot be tolerated, lest hearing the silence, the haters become further emboldened, and their hateful thoughts grow into hateful actions with hateful consequences.

How can one defend the supposed "free speech rights" of such haters, who in turn would trample the rights of those they hate? They themselves are worthy of neither defense nor respect; their ideas so repugnant they must be expurgated from civilized society; their mere presence so contemptible they must be ground out beneath the heels of our boots. Our tolerance and silence will only be seen as tacit approval. We must make it clear that we hate hate, even if that means we must in turn use hate as our weapon. The cause is just and the means justify the ends. Fight fire with fire! That’s the battle cry. After all, as Edmund Burke warned us, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

ON THE OTHER HAND, free speech is held sacred by Americans. It is enshrined in the First Amendment to our Constitution. If we accept that some ideas are too unwelcome to tolerate, then who is to say which ideas – whose ideas -- those are? If we do not hold fast to the absolute principle of freedom of expression for all, then how are we any different from those who have violently suppressed the expression of suffragettes, trade unionists, Communists, integrationists, or war protesters? We may understandably find some ideas hateful and their advocates revolting and unworthy of respect, but the Founding Fathers had just such instances in mind when they Constitutionally restrained Congress from "abridging the freedom of speech." The polls be damned – the Founders made no exception for Congress to abridge super-unpopular speech with a Super Majority.

THE CHAIRMAN, who hates debates that are not timely and relevant, has called a debate to settle the topic:

RESOLVED:  Haters Should be More Hated than Haters of Haters.

The Debate will be held on Wednesday, September 6th, 2017, at the University Club, 420 Summit Avenue, in Saint Paul. The Chancellor will preside over drinks beginning at seven o’clock p.m. The debate will begin at half past seven. There is no dress code, however gentlemen who wish to speak must wear a tie; ladies are encourage to adhere to a similar sartorial standard. For those gentlemen arriving sans tie yet wishing to discourse on the resolution, the Purveyor of Ties will keep on hand several remarkable selections. Questions regarding debate caucus procedures of about the John Adams Society itself may be directed to the Chairman at (651) 245-6991 or the Secretary at (651) 485-1699.