It's the sound of free speech dieing. Being slowly choked to death by the very people who will need it so desperately later, and by those who will be their oppressors.
President Bush is threatening not to sign legislation that would *retroactively* authorize WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING AND EAVESDROPPING of AMERICAN CITIZENS and also *retroactively* grant FULL IMMUNITY to as yet un-named telecommunications companies who have already been complicit in this violation of American civil rights that amounts to taking a huge crap on The Constitution.
This is all being done in the name of "homeland security" and "fighting the ter'rists". And so, so many of my fellow Americans blindly agree. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "If you don't have anything to hide, you don't have anything to worry about." (and a hundred variations on that theme). I witness this unmitigated burial of civil liberties and I am outraged. My paternal grandfather did not land on Omaha Beach on D-day so that the American government could openly spy on it's own people. NO SIR! He, and hundreds of thousands just like him, made that horrific landing to OPPOSE a government that did that. A government who also made frequent use of the term "homeland".
And it's not like this is a new concern. No less than Benjamin Franklin said, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
I weep for my country.
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I believe that there is no such thing as 100% freedom. If we do have that, people would feel they can do or say whatever they want...even if it would hurt other people physically and mentally. Compare to other countries, America might have more flexibility when it comes to the subject of freedom. But look at us now, so many conflicts are occurring because of freedom itself. It feels good to know we have freedom. It just doesn't feel as good when other people use it against us...
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http://www.mylot.com/?ref=truelife
Nowhere has it ever said that we have a right not to be offended. If you want freedom of speech for yourself, then unfortunately that means all the jackasses and jerks get it too. I would much rather be offended every once in a while than have to worry about every word I said. Just ask victims of Pinnochet, Hussein, Pol Pot, Chavez, Castro, China's Communist Party, Stalin, et al.
There's nothing like a trail of blood to find your way back home.--Nikki Sixx
A minor note, would n't the wire taps fall more under illegal searches than freedom of speech?
Smile Like You Care
The wiretap itself would fall under "illegal search and seizure" in terms of defense against the words recorded. However, my point is that by essentially making this previously illegal "searches" legal, the effect is to stiffle free speech, and by extension dissent.
There's nothing like a trail of blood to find your way back home.--Nikki Sixx