Read on Twitter
Imagine considering yourself a Serious Person and yet spending far more energy being concerned about the actions of a company named "Twitter" than the actions of a treasonous President.
Making one statement about how generically horrible January 6th and then spilling countless pixels about the "chilling effects" of clipping Trump's Twitter wings suggests that you think Trump is not responsible for a vile attack on our democracy. Do you?
Make no mistake: the topics of censorship and other civil liberties are incredibly important... and complex. Over 200+ years, our society has evolved our view of civil liberties, and we will continue to do so in the Age of the Internet.
But the house of democracy is on fire NOW. To not see the clear and present threat Trumpism is, to turn your attention and outrage so quickly to such a nuanced topic, when Trump can *still* command the world's attention at the drop of a hat, is to fail to be a leader.
I expect this kind of behavior from Ted Cruz, but it's disappointing to see the same cynicism and faux-intellectualism from so many in my orbit: Silicon Valley. Being contrarian does not mean absolving yourself of the basic civil duties expected of our community leaders. STEP UP.
If you've found yourself outraged at Twitter, take a moment to re-center yourself around the moment. I assure you, there will be plenty of time to debate those issues. The Constitution is not in imminent danger from the removal of @realDonaldTrump. It just isn't.
But if you also believe that Trump betrayed our nation, please focus on that for a bit longer. Speak to your friends, your family, and your colleagues about the harm he has caused. Offer a full-throated rejection of all that he stands for and the imminent danger he is inciting.
It's critical that we stamp out this grave threat. We need responsible leaders in our government and broader society. And we need the Republican Party to find its way again and to offer a slate of alternative, thoughtful, positive ideas for what our future can can be.
