In the past, people who owned and controlled printing presses were able to control the thoughts and opinions of the masses - to greater and lesser degrees. A printer might be imprisoned or burned at the stake for printing a manifesto on free love or free thought. The printer, as well as the author. Here's a snippet from that link above about Voltaire:
I consider myself to be a part of the lineage of the printer. Certainly times are different, and there are plenty of places where someone can record, and I can choose to let my personal political views guide my choices of which beliefs I will service and which I won't. But then again, it seems that so many of my colleagues represented here would turn away these voices - so perhaps there isn't anyone else with the courage to print Voltaire's work despite the reaction it may receive from the Dauphin.Then the Dauphin read it.
The privilege to publish was revoked; the censor who approved its publication was sacked. A rolling wave of official condemnation began, culminating with the Pope (Jan. 31, 1759) and the Parliament of Paris (Feb. 6) and public book-burning by the hangman (Feb. 10), an honor shared with Voltaire's ``Natural Law.''
And it doesn't matter to me that the money raised might be used for a pro-life campaign.
Would it matter to you if the money were being used to fund free abortion services? Would you then accept the job? Even though so many people in the country don't share that belief?
I would do it. Not because of the message, and not because I agree or disagree, but because I believe in messages being heard.
The truest test of your morals and beliefs isn't in how you choose to voice them, but in how (and whether) you allow others to do the same.
-Jeremy