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June 21, 2005 Welp the Bobsey Twins of “virtue”, nationalism and fundamentalism are at it again. Free speech is ok, as long as it doesn't offend. Offend what group? That folks, is up to the twins. Sort of invalidates the idea of free speech, no? Reminds me of Iran - elections, sure, reform, ok – as long as the ruling clerics don't object. See folks? What have I just said? To the mind of a nationalist, I have just wrongly compared the US of A to Iran; I should be publicly flogged for my treasonous speech. Or, strung up on a tree or blacklisted, depending on the type of “offense” and the era, and how much the public at large is willing to let the Right-wingers get away with.
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences
attending too much liberty than to those attending too
small a degree of it.
Ken said this, “You have free speech because of the military not in spite of it.”. First, I agree that mankind is the reason we have freedoms. Second, the, “in spite of it” bit is a silly addition that no Liberal of which I'm aware implies. Ken's tear-shedding continues:
“You said Mac should be willing to die so you could
express your opinion. Mac put his life on the line
throughout his career, [My service is forever
classified] and continues too do so today so you can
express an opinion. How about you, are you willing to
put your life on the line so Mac and I can express our
opinions? Please tell me where you learned things you
don’t agree with should be trashed? Is
that in the DNC Liberal handbook?
The military isn't my chosen profession, though I did consider joining the Air Force, and was in Air Force ROTC. I think national service, similar to what they have in many Western European countries, should be the norm; I think we should all serve a short time, rich and poor alike ;) Every citizen should be a soldier. This was
the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that
of every free state.
Ken, Mac – assume you are both NY City police men. Assume that a peaceful, but disgusting protest is attracting an angry mob. Lets say that I am marching down 5th Avenue, dressed like Bin Laden, holding torches made to look like skyscrapers, and that I toss down little American flags in front of me, which I purposely step on as I continue. Further, lets assume that some of the mob was closing in on me, punching me with angry fists. If either of you would do anything other than arrest those individuals, then you are both disgraces to your, or any, uniform. The constitution doesn't use words like “trashed” when granting the right of Free Speech. Don't like that? Then don't volunteer to wear a uniform, or move to Iran. I have dismissed most of your sophomoric
rhetoric as coming form someone who has little
knowledge of conditions around the world. It’s obvious
you’re unfamiliar with the enemy we face. We aren’t
fighting a nation we’re fighting an ideology
determined to kill Americans and oppress their
subjects. 500 of those murdering son’s of camels and
goats are held at Guantanamo. I feel more secure
knowing they’re held in tight security.
Those willing to give up a little liberty for
a little security deserve neither security nor
liberty. And I feel like an evil son of a female dog thinking that these folks are being denied their basic rights in the name of security. We are better than this; we can have our cake and eat it too. I'm not in favor of closing gitmo, but there are rational alternatives. Mr. Smith’s been careful to jump from one side
of the issue to the other. If challenged he can say he
supported etc.
Examples, if you please, Ken. I won't address the rest of your straw man arguments; this piece is long enough. But now that we're on speaking terms again, lets have a concise email debate; we can take clippings and post as articles here, if you'd like. Michael, you are correct here, “Amnesty International begins comparing the United States to the former Soviet Union where over 30 million died in a real 'gulag'.” When a respected international group makes this type of comparison, you aren't worried about America? What kind of patriot are you, anyway? Senators stand in chamber and declare the
American Armed Forces no better than those of Nazi
Germany, or Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge. That was 16 million
and 2 million killed respectively.
No, Micheal, that's in fact not what Durbin said. He said that if the US tortures and mistreats prisoners, then we are acting, in that case, as “evil” regimes acted, in those cases. And he is right. The new face of terrorism comes from the
magazine and newspaper pages of American media. It is
also seen in the faces of American lawmakers, pundits,
and their supporters who agree that slander against
Volunteers in America’s Armed Forces is an
acceptable form of free speech.
On behalf of those others which forgot to submit their articles to the Committee for the Approval of Acceptable Forms of Free Speech, chaired by the twins, I apologize. I didn't happen to see that in the constitution... If Durbin is going to compare America with Nazi
Germany as a matter of free speech, then I suppose I
would be within my right to compare all Durbin’s
supporters with bin Laden and the rest of the Islamic,
radical, murdering scum currently fighting against
freedom and peace; all in the name of free speech of
course.
Well, yes and no, Michael. Yes, you can say anything you want, but no, Durbin didn't compare America to Nazi Germany. He didn't call women feminazis, or suggest that Liberals should be killed to show that “Liberals can die too”, as your friend Ann recommends. He merely said that if we torture our prisoners like Nazis would, then, well, we are acting a little bit like Nazis did, when it comes to torturing prisoners. See, it's so black and white that even a fundamentalist can understand it ;) In any case, why worry about little ol' me and my rights, boys? Ken, you think that Americans are the chosen people of God [he/she/it], right? You don't know if God is a man, a woman, a transvestite, a Polish lesbian [she likes men], or a hermaphrodite, but you know that America is special; God powered neo-manifest destiny [a highly efficient and clean energy source]! Down with the Muslims! Onward Christian soldier! Michael, you think the end is upon us, right? It won't be long before you vanish into bliss, while I stay behind and suffer? Boys, if these things are true, then you have all but won anyway – why not leave the rest of us poor civil rights loving folk in peace to adhere to the rule of law? Please? ------------ About the author Frederick Smith: I enjoy writing about the positive virtues of humanism - humanists are the good guys. Email: dahlek65@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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