FREE SPEECH - RushOnline.com
Re: David Horowitz
I have read numerous bits and pieces how David Horowitz challenged
college newspapers to run an ad condemning the idea of government
reparations for Black Americans.
He allegedly had a ten point argument that seemed eminently sensible.
Some of his points were:
It makes no moral or legal sense to exact payment from people
who have committed no crime to people who have suffered no direct
harm.
He notes that no group shares singular responsibility for slavery,
exclusively benefit from its fruits or consistently suffer harm
from its legacy.
He pokes holes in other reparations claims, and concludes by
arguing that the movement stigmatizes blacks, ignores history,
distorts legal precedent and makes a mockery of our standard notions
of justice.
Mr. Horowitz has offered a serious argument in order to counter
a wholly unserious political crusade.
Apparently only five colleges have dared to run the ad, and two
of those subsequently printed the Horowitz screed.
Rather than embrace the concept of free journalism and the First
Ammendment the University of California Berkeley bowed down,
touched their forelock, and published a mewling editorial designed
to kiss the bums of those students want to suppress free and open
discussion.
The University of Wisconsin and Brown University stood
pat and defended the First Amendment. [The Brown University
parasitic group stole most of the copies of the edition running
the ads]
I would suggest that three things are in order:
Someone who has the full text of Mr. Horowitz' ad should publish
it on the internet through an appropriate message board. Some
web site, such as "Vote.com" should conduct a poll to
determine how many people think that the First Amendment should
have some degree of priority over "Pseudo Political Correctness".
Those of you who think that the University of Wisconsin and Brown
University deserve a pat on the back for supporting the First
Amendment should email them and tell them so.
I unfortunately do not know the email address of either the University
of Wisconsin or Brown University. Perhaps a friendly reader
could supply them to others who read this to facilitate such kudos.
A similar email to University of California Berkeley which
could serve to explain to them
the meaning to The First Amendment.
* * *
Subject: I'm A Bad American, or am I?
This pretty much sums it up for me:
I like big cars, big boats, big houses, and naturally, pretty
women.
I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some
mid level governmental functionary with a bad comb-over who wants
to give it away to crack addicts squirting out babies.
I don't care about appearing compassionate.
I think playing with toy guns doesn't make you a killer - I believe
ignoring your kids and giving them Prozac might.
I think I'm doing better than the homeless.
I don't think being a minority makes you noble or victimized.
I have the right not to be tolerant of others because they are
different, weird or piss me off. This is my life to live, and
not necessarily up to others expectations.
I know what SEX is and there are not varying degrees of it.
I know what the definition of lying is, and it isn't based on
the word "is"- ever.
I don't celebrate Kwanzaa. But if you want to that's fine; just
don't feel like everyone else should have to.
I believe that if you are selling me a Dairy queen shake, a pack
of cigarettes,or hotel room you do it in English.As of matter
of fact, if you are an American citizen you should speak English.
My uncles and forefathers shouldn't have had to die in vain so
you can leave the countries you were born into come disrespect
ours, and make us bend to your will. Get over it.
I don't think just because you were not born in this country,
you qualify for any special loan programs, gov't sponsored bank
loans, etc., so you can open a hotel, 7-Eleven, trinket shop,
or any damn thing else, while the indigenous peoples can't get
past a high school education if they can't afford it.
I think the cops have every right to shoot your sorry ass if
you're running from them after they tell you to stop. If you can't
understand the word freeze or stop in English, see the previous
line.
I don't use the excuse "it's for the children" as a
shield for unpopular opinions or actions.
I know how to count votes and I feel much safer letting a machine
with no political affiliation recount when needed.
I didn't take the initiative in inventing the Internet.
I thought the Taco Bell dog was funny.
I want them to bring back safe and sane fireworks.
I believe no one ever died because of something Ozzy Osbourne,
Ice-T or Marilyn Manson sang, but that doesn't mean I want to
listen to that crap from someone else's car when I'm stopped at
a red light. But I respect your right to.
I think that being a student doesn't give you any more enlightenment
than working at Blockbuster or Jack In The Box.
I don't want to eat or drink anything with the words light, lite
or fat-free on the package.
Our soldiers did not go to some foreign country and risk their
lives in vain and defend our Constitution so that decades later
you can tell me it's a living document ever changing and is open
to interpretation. The guys who wrote it were light years ahead
of anyone today, and they meantwhat they said - now leave the
document the hell alone, or there's going to be trouble.
I don't hate the rich. I help the poor. I know wrestling is fake.
I've never owned or was a slave, and a large percentage or our
forefathers weren't wealthy enough to own one either. Please stop
blaming me because some prior white people were idiots - and remember,
tons of white, Indian, Chinese, and other races have been enslaved
too-it was wrong for every one of them.
I believe a self-righteous liberal with a cause >is more dangerous
than a Hell'sAngel with an attitude.
I want to know which church is it exactly where the "Reverend"
Jessie Jackson preaches; and, what exactly is his job function.
I own a gun, you can own a gun, and any red blooded American
should be allowed to own a gun, but if you use it in a crime then
you will serve the time.
I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made
and continue to make more. If it pisses you off, invent the next
operating system that's better and put your name on the building.
Ask your buddy that invented the Internet to help you.
I don't believe in hate crime legislation. Even suggesting it
pisses me off. You're telling me that someone who is a minority,
gay, disabled, another nationality, or otherwise different from
the mainstream of this country has more value as a human being
that I do as a white male. Hell, if someone kills anyone, I'd
say that it's a hate crime.
We don't need more laws! Let's enforce the ones we already have.
I think turkey bacon, turkey beef, turkey fake anything sucks.
I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child - it
takes a parent with the balls to stand up to the kid and spank
his butt and say "NO!" when it's necessary to do so.
I'll admit that the only movie that ever made me cry was Ole
Yeller.
I didn't realize Dr. Seuss was a genius until I had a kid.
I will not be frowned upon or be looked down upon or be made
to keep silent because I have these beliefs and opinions. I thought
this country allowed me that right. I will not conform or compromise
just to keep from hurting somebody's feelings.
I'm neither angry nor disenfranchised, no matter how desperately
the mainstream media would like the world to believe otherwise.
Yes, I guess by some peoples' definition, I may be a bad American.
But that's tough!
* * *
May 10, 2001
Where have our freedoms gone? We now live under the biggest challenge
to our very way of life, our expressions of free speech. This
great freedom was granted to us by our forefather's lives. Our
government and public media i.e. TV and Radio is kowtowing to
the minority, those that find certain words, actions or language
offensive. Since when, have the few had the power to change what
the masses want or have? We have had books, songs, plays, and
now "free speech" outlawed by the few that believe certain
words need to be illegal. What constitutes a word, phrase, book,
play or speech, offensive and by whom? Does a person in New York,
Chicago, San Fransciso or any city in the nation, suddenly decide
this? If so, what are the criteria to determine its offensiveness?
One person actually verbalizing something. Is that offensive and
through that complaint, the rest of mankind is forbidden to use
that word, phrase etc. ever again, under penalty of fine and/or
imprisonment. Is this what the constitution, as written, by the
founding fathers of our country meant by "Free Speech?"
The interpretation of the "Bill of Rights" guarantees
all citizens the right to free speech, to speak what we like and
don't like even though someone differs with our point of view.
This was suppose to give us a voice with our government officials
which, were denied in the United Kingdom and another reason we
came to America, land of the free. We have the best country in
the world, with more freedoms than any other, but are we trading
these freedoms in the name of the few? Are we such a society we
wear our feeling on our shirtsleeves? Isn't it a paradox to say
we have free speech, then outlaw the media we use?
It is this authors belief we are willing to hand this progressive,
robust country over to our children with handcuffs that stifle
creative thinking. How many great literary articles would not
have been written if these laws were in effect when they were
written? Would we have had Albert Einstein to give the world the
laws of Physics if we restricted him as Germany did? He left Germany
because of oppression. I firmly believe in the original law that
defines free speech, "not to cause danger to others."
Do words create danger? Many will debate this over and over. Will
the minority win again and further erode our freedom of speech
and other freedoms we are guaranteed by the Constitution? I certainly
hope not.
The real problem, which often goes unnoticed, are the individuals
and the morality they have been brought up to respect or more
commonly not to respect. As a society, we need to go back to the
basics of teaching right from wrong. If we do this, then the moral
majority will instill in their young, it is wrong to verbally
hurt your fellow man. When society deems this not acceptable behavior
it will stop, without laws. It's up to you, as it should be. You
are the country and your voice is the supreme law of the land.
Exercise it! Apathy is certainly the reason we are in this situation
in. Government will not interfere, if the people stand up to be
counted and assert themselves. Government acts strictly when we
fail to address our own problems. As they get use to acting on
our behalf, they become more and more intervening as we set back
and allow it to happen. Every great civilization has had the same
problem. Eventually that civilization has either turned to a dictatorship
or lost is identity as a free nation and it ceases to exist. Is
this our future? Is this how we pay back our fathers that laid
their lives on the line? "Give me liberty or give me death".
"I am sorry I have but one life to give". Who of you
will utter these words and be willing to pay with your life for
these freedoms, to be handed down to our children for a better
life?
All we ever see from media, politicians and advertisements is
guided toward our children to sell you their belief, to make you
feel guilty if you don't go along with perception of their views.
Well then, why are the most important freedoms we have not viewed
the same way? We seem to be selective about the way we interpret
what we want to give our children. Let us select what was given
to us by blood, sweat, tears and many lives. Let us give them
the freedoms we received and have given away. Let's take back
those freedoms and be the guardians of the "Supreme Document"
this country was founded on, The Constitution of the United States.
We need freedom of expression and speech to delve into literary
masterpieces, to go forth into the 21st Century with the furor
our fathers came into the 20th Century. We need to accomplish,
invent, write and otherwise further our society as a whole.
It is easier for us to set down and write a check to our favorite
charity than it is to take steps to shore up our Constitution.
Isn't that a sore legacy to leave behind? We were too lazy, busy
or didn't care enough to make sure future Americans, our children,
have the same right given us by our mothers and fathers. Shame
on us as a population. Are you ready to start doing your part
as an American in good standing? Vote for values, tell your electives
you stand for America's values, good leadership, morality, honesty
and the right to live life free. We are losing our vote to promises
never delivered, a bone thrown with no meat and we accept this
and the politicians know full well we will. It doesn't matter
who the president is or who our congressman/congresswoman are,
it matters what we believe and what we want. We choose who represents
us and that matters. "For the people by the people."
Let's make that true again.
In our last election, we the people lost our vote! The United
States Supreme Court installed the President, well then do we
need an election? Because this was a close election does it matter.
Shouldn't we still have the one-person one vote? Shouldn't all
votes count? Did we get partisan politics?
We found old voting machine, many illegal procedural problems
that have been in the system for years, people altering ballot
requests, how did all this happen to the greatest country in the
World? Reread above for that answer, it's there. Apathy!
Written by: Paul
