I am getting sick and tired of the idiocy surrounding “free speech.” Hello? Has anyone even bothered to read the Bill of Rights?!
So bloggers get banned from Entrecards, for being vulgar or obscene, or whatever. Being banned from Entrecard in NO WAY supresses anyone’s right to free speech! Entrecard, nor the radio program, nor the newspaper– NO ONE– is supressing your “right” to free speech by shutting you out. You have the right to speak out, yeah, go ahead. But no one HAS TO LISTEN TO YOU.
Which reminds me of that IDIOTIC new bill (is it law yet?!) called “The Fairness Doctrine.” Hoh boy, that’s a ringer for a name– yeah, has that familiar ring to it, like Hitler’s agenda behind what he called the “Jewish Problem.” Oh, but the “Fairness Doctrine” is supposed to equalize the playing field of “free speech” everywhere for everyone, right?
Balderdash!
OK, boys and girls. Here it is:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
This is a limit upon CONGRESS, not upon businesses or indivduals, or even states. Your Civics Teacher probably neglected to tell you that the Bill of Rights was an enumeration of our states’ and individual protections from the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Congress cannot prohibit your right to speak out. But that does not mean that A) Congress pays you or bribes others so you can speak out freely; B) Congress elevates one group at the expense of another so that one group is heard above or is inclusive to the others; or C) a group or other individual must be forced to hear your silly, ridiculous, and/or obscene blather.
You have the right to free speech as an American citizen, sure. But you do not have the right to force others to listen. You have the right to suffer the consequences of your free speech, i.e., you may be banned or rejected. Just because you have an opinion does not mean that it has value, worth, or interest.
March 7th, 2009 at 10:37 am
AMEN, I am so thrilled to hear this expressed so well. I bet the founding fathers are rolling over in their graves when they hear the president talk about “controlling the flow of information”. And we do as a country have no idea what responsibility is, except when it comes to ourselves.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
You are SO right. It’s great to hear it put so clearly. It’s a real shame that our elected officials aren’t required to learn the truth about the founding of our country and the desire of our founders to limit the federal government and make them keep their noses out of our business.
March 11th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
i just wanted to say thank you relating to Entrecard. You are absolutely correct. I for one found a blog that was a phone sex call in blog on EC. I think that got banned too.
As my grandchildren come to my blog and read they have full access to EC. And I just know my 16 year old grandson would have loved that site.
Also EC does have some very young bloggers that are registered with them. I personally think it is their duty and most certainly their right to ban anyone they choose.
After all, didn’t we all agree to those terms whren we signed up with EC?
Great post all the way around…I just love your blog!!
Jackie:-)
March 11th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Oh did that phone sex blog get banned?! That makes me HAPPY! :D Because that blogger was quite active on the Forum Boards, inviting people to the blog for all sorts of sordid, disgusting things. I’m glad to hear that EC got some backbone and booted it! Yay!
Thanks for your comments.