The term "denialism" does indeed recall Holocaust denial. And that leads me to the conclusion that Holocaust denial shouldn't be criminalized either. Oh, it happened all right. And saying it didn't is an insult to the survivors and their families. But those points can be claimed by any government who want an excuse to restrict speech.
It's a slippery slope, and they're holding ski poles.
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When the government, as the biggest formal agency over human affairs, has decided that something is true then no evidence to the contrary can be accepted. Leila Mechoui has written a very coherent article about the problems involved in turning any doubts one may have into actual criminal behavior. We've most definitely had enough of that already.
A teacher in BC was fired recently for telling his 12th grade students the facts about the deaths from tuberculosis at the residential schools. After 40 years as a teacher he was marched out of the school within the hour. (I have to say that after 40 years that could be seen as retiring on principle.)
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission highlights that this deplorable situation was well known, quoting documents in the National Archives of Canada that said: “As many as half of the aboriginal children who attended the early years of residential schools died of tuberculosis, despite repeated warnings to the federal Government that overcrowding, poor sanitation and a lack of medical care were creating a toxic breeding ground for the rapid spread of the disease.”
Yep, a slippery slope to the thought crimes of totalitarianism. You're right that criminalizing anything people might say is government overreach. At least posting bills on telephone poles won't get you cancelled (probably, unless someone is filming with their smartphone)..
It goes back to what William M. Briggs has said a few things. If there's going to be official misinformation there must also be official state truths. And of course that's not how you find the truth. It's how the state is able to impose lies as truth. Forcing people to mouth their belief in those lies is the final twist of the knife.
The teacher in BC stood his ground admirably. The sad thing is that you can't really expect staff with only a few years' seniority to follow suit. At any rate it's much less likely. So at the very least I hope he made an impact on the kids in his class, one that they'll remember.
Tuberculosis used to be a high-volume killer. I can easily believe it played a part. But the thing is that while the authorities definitely shared some responsibility in what happened, what is likely the true story isn't simple and straightforward enough to satisfy the activists.
As much time as I spend on the internet, there are times when I think of it the way Batman speaks about guns: the tool of the enemy. So maybe there's something to be said for posting bills on telephone poles. It could get someone thinking.
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