Political Discussion and Commentary
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People will say that conservatives are just stupid, but I believe it's not that simple.
We use words not only to transfer the meaning or knowledge, but also in-group belonging, hopes and fears, a myriad of various stuff.
When your grandpa says that he loves free speech, it may mean that he associates himself with the group which also associates itself with this slogan. It may also mean that they are afraid of losing their 'right' to call queer folks degenerates, as if this 'right' were part of his identity or the in-group identity.
The most cruel thing you can do, is to devour the meaning from the slogan -- support it and claim your trans friends are very much keen on fighting for the freedom of speech. Don't do it if you love your grandpa. Keep arguing with him, keep pushing the fact that he's not that for the freedom of speech if you really care about him.
Also liberals let alone lefties are not free from such in-group symbolism: today it's about eating the rich, a few years ago it was about defunding the police.