Sedition vs Free Speech

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." -- John Philpot Curran, Irish lawyer and politician (1790).

   The current president of the United States often warns of an attempted "coup" against him, and he regularly attacks anyone who criticizes him in any way, from "fake news" in journalism outlets to individuals who do not actively support his every thought and action.
   This week, he issued an executive order barring federal aid grants to schools that allegedly "stifle competing perspectives" offered by conservatives.
   He apparently did this at the suggestion of the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC), which objects to widespread liberalism at colleges and universities, supposedly chilling discourse on competing views.
   Superficially, this sounds good. All views and opinions should be expressed and heard. But given the history of the radical righteous, this claim for equal opportunity is often a cover for actions to stifle competing perspectives offered by liberals.
   Sedition can be defined as conduct or speech aimed at inciting rebellion. It differs from treason, which is a stronger term that calls for violence as well as giving aid and comfort to an enemy. Simplistically, sedition typically involves speech alone, while treason calls for violent action.
   Sedition is harder to prove since it conflicts with the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. Merely disagreeing is not seditious.
   That has not, however, stopped some in government from trying to stifle opposition by alleging sedition. This goes all the way back to 1798, when the federal Sedition Act was used as a weapon against those who disagreed with government policy.
   Nevertheless, there remain on the books federal laws against sedition, although they are rarely invoked.
   So is it seditious to call for a change in government? If done violently, through a "coup," yes. But if done peacefully, via the ballot box or impeachment, no.
   Even so, when a political leader uses the two terms interchangeably, either through ignorance or deliberately as a way to demand support, the nation must be warned.
   Note: The original quote by John Philpot Curran is, "The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance." It was quickly picked up by American leaders and changed.
   Nevertheless, the warning remains as strong today as ever, as  some leaders allege that any disagreement is equal to sedition, if not outright treason. The current president has done just that.