December 22nd, 2005
First Ammendment
In an article titled “Your Right To Be an Idiot” Tony Long has one quote that I felt was worth repeating. Technically it is the first two paragraphs of the article; and a great two paragraphs they are too.
Let’s get something straight from the get-go. The First Amendment is sacrosanct. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of thought, the whole ball of wax — it’s the DNA of the United States, the stuff America is made of. You don’t mess with it, ever. Without it, we’re North Korea with a few shopping malls.
No lying, fear-mongering administration, no sanctimonious red-state senator, no judge with an ax to grind has the right to screw around with it. Even those of you far to the right of sanity must see the wisdom in that. Remember those guys with the powdered wigs and the tight breeches and the bad teeth? Jefferson and Hamilton and that mob? Those were your guys, once. For the sake of what follows, let’s pretend the First Amendment still matters, even to you.
While I realize the quote could be taken as an attack on the current administration – remember please that it could just as easily be an attack on any past administration depending on how you felt about them – so please leave your personal bias for Bush and his friends out of the conversation for a minute while you give the quote some thought.
Our nation has a legacy of doing a lot of crazy things – but, whether some want to agree or not – we are a beacon for freedom and all that we stand for is based, in no small part, upon the First Amendment. If we ever lose it we throw away not only the sacrifices of millions of soldiers and civilians in the history of the USA but also that which makes America great.
Comments
I have watched the erosion of our freedoms for many years now. Most people I’ve talked with about it say, oh, it’s nothing, because it might just be a small thing in the bigger scheme of things. …but all those small things end up the bigger thing…which is our freedom. The biggest example right now of the government censuring freedom of speech via extraordinary fines is Howard Stern. He should not have been fined off the air. Many people are happy to hear he’s off the air because they don’t agree with what he has to say, but the beauty of this country is suppose to be freedom. Where did it go?!?!?!?!?
Mom
December 22nd, 2005
Stern is an interesting example. That guy is pretty wild and, I think, the FCC just likes to make an example of him.
It’s stupid really. He is on at wierd hours I thought, at least his TV show is (which is just a rebroadcast of his radio show). I think his radio show is on in the morning. Anyway, the FCC loves to mess with him.
Have you seen any of the “Oprah -vs- Stern” stuff that caused a big hubbub. The gist is that Oprah had a segment that wasn’t censored at all – not a single FCC “bleep” – but when Stern replayed a recording of it the FCC bleeped all over it.
http://www.howardstern.com/oprah.php
Sad.
Bill
December 22nd, 2005
Howard Stern is going to be on Sirrius Sattelite Radio (which i think i may be getting for xmas) most of his “edgy” stuff is really pretty lame I dont understand the fuss about him. The thing about going to this new technology is he wont be censored at all. They have uncensored songs, comedians etc on there. There is still freedom of speech you just have to pay for it, like TV…lol
Ted
December 22nd, 2005
I can’t access that site from my work computer :o) but I will check it out when I get home. I think most of his stuff is pretty lame too and if you don’t want to hear it, listen to another station. I did hear him say Oprah was edgier than him…and she is allowed to edgier! She has talked about ‘landing strips’, different types of boobs & bikini waxes; has been seen feeling women’s boobs to see ho w their bras fit, blah, blah, blah but Stern couldn’t even use the language she has used lately without being fined. Yup, if you have money you will have access to ‘free’ speech, otherwise you have lost it.
Mom
December 22nd, 2005
I don’t think you have lost your freedom of speach. The freedom to have it broadcast into your home has always been limited – but you’re still free to say it.
Stern can still say whatever he wants – he just doesn’t have the freedom to push it into our homes. There is a difference.
Heck, the radio we enjoy for free now we pay for via listening to commercials – you aren’t paying for free speach by listening to Sirrius or XM – you’re paying for commerical free radio. You just get the benefit of uncensored stations.
The comedy station on XM is great by the way. My boss has it and when we need to take long trips (to DC) we listen – its hilarious and really makes the trip fly by.
Bill
December 22nd, 2005
i dont want to jinx myself but i am pretty sure i am getting it..i cant wait, i will listen at work.
oprah talking about “landing stips” not a good image
Ted
December 23rd, 2005
IM just a kid, but id like to say IM part of a free country without thinking in the back of my head “except for…”. Everyone says “well we still can do this or do that” but they dont see the big picture. Just for a moment think of the number of young people(my age) that went and fought for our freedoms when this once great country was founded. Yes we have more freedoms then other countries. But think about it. An unaired TALKshow (FIRST ammendment!), government tracking/watching people in its own country, it can quickly become BIG BROTHER. Once government puts line between the people and thier freedom, no matter how far away it is, that line WILL move closer and closer. But governments put lines there to keep the piece. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing but i know that if there were no restrictions on our freedom some idiot would abuse that freedom is such a way that people would suffer. So we do need at least a bare mininum of a few restrictions. Besides, what fun would it be if we had no rules to break every once in a while!?! ;)
Kidwhoiswise
January 3rd, 2006
Id also like to say that if someone doesnt like what is being said disagree, leave, or change the channel.
Kidwhoiswise
January 3rd, 2006