Apparently this statement was used in a Supreme Court decision to lock up anti-war protesters. This is not a good precedent for those who call themselves progressives. The First Amendment isn’t “absolute,” so Second isn’t either? Nothing is “absolute” except absolute zero – so what? Does this justify increasingly severe restrictions of our basic freedoms?
So if the theater is on fire, we should remain silent until the smoke and flames are obvious to all? But then, of course, there may be no escape. And if our liberties are in danger, we should remain silent until they are gone entirely? But then, of course, we will have no choice but to remain silent. Nothing justifies impairing basic liberties – certainly not meaningless platitudes.