The Price of Free Speech

[liberalpress]

"Emboldening The Enemy." Right-wing talk show hosts are all aflutter with this new phrase. Against the war? You're emboldening the enemy. Against the Patriot Act? You're emboldening the enemy. Think differently from the way the neo-conservatives think? You're emboldening the enemy.

There are many things wrong with this mindset, one of the most egregious being who the hell uses the word "emboldening" in everyday language? But the other thing that disturbs me is the implication that if your words are emboldening the enemy, then you probably better just shut up.

But there is a sick, twisted, part of my nature that is amused by the irony of this statement and those conservatives who are expressing it. Conservatives, self-professed lovers of the law and the Constitution, are saying the first amendment does not apply "in times of war." Funny. I must have missed that particular phrase in the amendment.

True, Congress has made no law prohibiting the free expression of ideas, but the neo-cons-in-charge are doing what they always do when one of their decisions proves to be unpopular with the American public: try to stop dissent by impugning the patriotism of anyone who disagrees with them.

I have no qualms expressing my love for this country. I am proud to be living in the United States of America. I care about this country and what happens to her. Which is exactly why I shall continue to speak out against what I believe are errors in judgment by our elected officials, and point out what I believe to be policies which can harm the God-given freedoms of American citizens. That was a right which was expressly given to me -- to all of us, by some very wise men three centuries ago.

Now if anybody wants to tell me to my face that that kind of behavior "emboldens" the enemy, meet me outside where my fist will embolden your nose.

[liberal N proud]

1. It is a secret clause they stuck in right after 9/11

It reads something like this:
The first amendment does not apply in times of wars started by a Republican President with a Republican majority in both houses of Congress and a Supreme Cort sympathetic to the current administration.
:sarcasm:

[Jim__]

2. Even if we accept their premise.

There is a tradeoff between the occasional "emboldening of the enemy" and the benefits of the free exchange of ideas. Personally, I'll take the benefits of the free exchange of ideas.

[bryant69]

3. It's a long way from a new phrase

They've been using it for years - it's designed to be a bit softer than "Giving comfort to the enemy" which sounds softer but is taken from the definition of Treason (a capital crime). They love it - but again I think they want to start execute people.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com