ses@tipper.oit.unc.edu (Simon Spero) writes:
There's a fine line between defending someones freedom of speech, and actively promoting that speech. The reason these mirrors have been set up is to counter the restriction on access to the original site that has been put in place by Deutche Telecom; however, in addition to defeating this restriction, this approach also makes the material more widely available than it was previously, which could be seen as crossing the line between defence of free speech, and active promotion.
I think you have to look at the balance between two things. First, there is the effect of making the material more widely available and publicized than it was prior to the attempted censorship. This effect is definitely real. Indeed, prior to a few days ago, I wouldn't have known a Zundelsite from a hole in the ground. Second, however, is the unprecedented opportunity for people running mirrors to guarantee that large numbers of the public will encounter said material for the first time enveloped within their chosen "context wrapper." Now it is well known that the crafty art of propaganda rarely consists of deliberate falsehoods, like "yellow rain" or "spy dust". It mostly consists of making sure one is in complete control of the circumstances in which potentially damaging information is disclosed. The opportunity to present Mr. Zundel's views brightly gift-wrapped in paper bearing the legend - "Here are the offensive views of a hate-mongering Nazi whose victims are supporting his right to be heard" - is worth more than a thousand press releases denouncing Mr. Zundel by the anti-defamation brigade. I would expect that it is this second effect which predominates, and therefore the proliferation of mirror sites is in fact a victory for Mr. Zundel's detractors, and not a promotion of Mr. Zundel's views. -- Mike Duvos $ PGP 2.6 Public Key available $ mpd@netcom.com $ via Finger. $