Once upon a time supporting human rights included defending free speech, even if it was speech one did not much like or welcome.
This also included presenting moderation and self-restraint as ends in themselves. Promoting the profound and difficult idea that rational, reasonable, constructive, positive ends would not be achieved by irrational, unreasonable, destructive, negative means.
Once upon a time human rights activists were people we all could look up to.
People who exemplified courage, principle and moderation. People who evinced a sense of proportion.
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