FreedoM Open Trackbacks WeekenD
“Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other form of freedom.”
Benjamin Nathan Cardozo
“Everybody favours free speech in the slack moments when no axes are being ground.”
Heywood C. BROUN
“Without free speech no search for truth is possible… no discovery of truth is useful… Better a thousandfold abuse of free speech than denial of free speech. The abuse dies in a day, but the denial slays the life of the people, and entombs the hope of the race.”
Charles Bradlaugh
“Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble, if men are allowed to reason…
There can be on right of speech where any man…[is] compelled to suppress his honest sentiments.
Equally clear is the right to hear. To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.”
Frederick Douglass
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
George Orwell
“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.”
Sal-man Rush-die
“I have always been among those who believed that the greatest freedom of speech was the greatest safety, because if a man is a fool the best thing to do is to encourage him to advertise the fact by speaking.”
Woodrow Wilson
In light of ABC and Disney altering the movie “The Path to 9-11″, due to political pressure from the Clintonians and the Demofascists, I have been contemplating the erosion of freedom of speech and expression, except for our enemies , whom most seem to defend.
What is your take on all of this sweet friends?
Is all lost?
Open Trackbacks all weekend long.
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September 8th, 2006 at 9:17 am
Archie Bunker: You’re supposed to be the big bug on the Constitution, right? Well the first amendment guarantees that baby the right to bear a machine gun?
Mike Stivic: The first amendment guarantees free speech.
Archie Bunker: Same thing, buddy boy. If you got a gun in your hand, you’re free to make any speech you want to.
Just a little humor. In all seriousness, MSM will always cave in to the Dems. It is kind of hard to determine where one starts and the other begins. My question here is were the Repulicans and the Conservatives asleep at the wheel?
It is not bad enugh that the movie is scheduled to play the day before the election, but it erases the gross, reckless, and wanton negligence of their “sainted” president.
People involved in the intelligence field have come forward and refuted the Clinton version of events and even the 911 Comission version of events leading up to the attacks.
It gets small play in the news. But they pounce when half truths and out right lies must replace the truth. I guess the old saying is true. The truth hurts.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:19 am
GOP: Dr Jekyll or Mr. Hyde?…
A Party that is willing to toss its core beliefs to the winds for victory, wins nothing and believes in nothing except victory, a hollow victory at that. Isn’t that the very thing we accuse the liberals of doing?
……
September 8th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Angel…starting the weekend early?
I was disheartened to hear that Tony Blair will resign within the next 12 months. Although his popularity is nearing an all-time low, he has been a stalwart ally with America in the war against terrorism. As a Labor Party candidate (liberal), I’m actually surprised he lasted 10 years.
I think the future will put him in the same categories as Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and Benjamin D’Israeli.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Sorry for this long post, but I thought you might be interested in the letter that was sent to ABC by the entire Democratic Senate.
Mr. Robert A. Iger
President and CEO
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank CA 91521
Dear Mr. Iger,
We write with serious concerns about the planned upcoming broadcast of The Path to 9/11 mini-series on September 10 and 11. Countless reports from experts on 9/11 who have viewed the program indicate numerous and serious inaccuracies that will undoubtedly serve to misinform the American people about the tragic events surrounding the terrible attacks of that day. Furthermore, the manner in which this program has been developed, funded, and advertised suggests a partisan bent unbecoming of a major company like Disney and a major and well respected news organization like ABC. We therefore urge you to cancel this broadcast to cease Disney’s plans to use it as a teaching tool in schools across America through Scholastic. Presenting such deeply flawed and factually inaccurate misinformation to the American public and to children would be a gross miscarriage of your corporate and civic responsibility to the law, to your shareholders, and to the nation.
The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the public interest. Nowhere is this public interest obligation more apparent than in the duty of broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a democracy by promoting an open and accurate discussion of political ideas and events.
Disney and ABC claim this program to be based on the 9/11 Commission Report and are using that assertion as part of the promotional campaign for it. The 9/11 Commission is the most respected American authority on the 9/11 attacks, and association with it carries a special responsibility. Indeed, the very events themselves on 9/11, so tragic as they were, demand extreme care by any who attempt to use those events as part of an entertainment or educational program. To quote Steve McPhereson, president of ABC Entertainment, “When you take on the responsibility of telling the story behind such an important event, it is absolutely critical that you get it right.”
Unfortunately, it appears Disney and ABC got it totally wrong.
Despite claims by your network’s representatives that The Path to 9/11 is based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, 9/11 Commissioners themselves, as well as other experts on the issues, disagree.
Richard Ben-Veniste, speaking for himself and fellow 9/11 Commissioners who recently viewed the program, said, “As we were watching, we were trying to think how they could have misinterpreted the 9/11 Commission’s findings the way that they had.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]
Richard Clarke, the former counter-terrorism czar, and a national security advisor to ABC has described the program as “deeply flawed” and said of the program’s depiction of a Clinton official hanging up on an intelligence agent, “It’s 180 degrees from what happened.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]
Reports suggest that an FBI agent who worked on 9/11 and served as a consultant to ABC on this program quit halfway through because, “he thought they were making things up.” [MSNBC, September 7, 2006]
Even Thomas Kean, who serves as a paid consultant to the miniseries, has admitted that scenes in the film are fictionalized. [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006]
That Disney would seek to broadcast an admittedly and proven false recounting of the events of 9/11 raises serious questions about the motivations of its creators and those who approved the deeply flawed program. Finally, that Disney plans to air commercial-free a program that reportedly cost it $40 million to produce serves to add fuel to these concerns.
These concerns are made all the more pressing by the political leaning of and the public statements made by the writer/producer of this miniseries, Mr. Cyrus Nowrasteh, in promoting this miniseries across conservative blogs and talk shows.
Frankly, that ABC and Disney would consider airing a program that could be construed as right-wing political propaganda on such a grave and important event involving the security of our nation is a discredit both to the Disney brand and to the legacy of honesty built at ABC by honorable individuals from David Brinkley to Peter Jennings. Furthermore, that Disney would seek to use Scholastic to promote this misguided programming to American children as a substitute for factual information is a disgrace.
As 9/11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick said, “It is critically important to the safety of our nation that our citizens, and particularly our school children, understand what actually happened and why – so that we can proceed from a common understanding of what went wrong and act with unity to make our country safer.”
Should Disney allow this programming to proceed as planned, the factual record, millions of viewers, countless schoolchildren, and the reputation of Disney as a corporation worthy of the trust of the American people and the United States Congress will be deeply damaged. We urge you, after full consideration of the facts, to uphold your responsibilities as a respected member of American society and as a beneficiary of the free use of the public airwaves to cancel this factually inaccurate and deeply misguided program. We look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Sincerely,
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid
Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron Dorgan
The Senate Democratic leadership just threatened Disney’s broadcast license. Not the use of the word “trustee” at the beginning of the letter and “trust” at the end. This is nothing less than an implicit threat that if Disney tries to meddle in the US elections on behalf of the Republicans, they will pay a very serious price when the Democrats get back in power, or even before.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:56 am
I don’t dare really go into what I think of the letter that AC left from those creeps! If I do, there will be so many swear words published here you would have to delete this post!
@#$&!$#!!!!!! And so forth!
September 8th, 2006 at 11:03 am
More SAT Nonsense in Maine…
To my great horror, it seems that Maine Education Commissioner Susan Gendron might be successful in continuing to use the SAT as an evaluation tool for Maine’s high school juniors….
September 8th, 2006 at 11:07 am
All the problems this country has, and they’re spending all this time worrying about the content of a TV show that hardly anybody wanted to watch. Now that all this has happened, I want to watch it and I think lots of people will demand to eventually see the “director’s cut.” Censorship never works.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:21 am
9/11/Hell/Sick Muslim/Tough Love…
I just heard on Fox News while writing this post that Bill Clinton and Madeline Albright are trying stop “The Path to 9/11″ from being aired. That’s all the more reason to watch it, folks….
September 8th, 2006 at 11:48 am
I posted after I read Michael Medved’s piece at Townhall.com. The folly of ‘proportional response”. I’ve also posted my 9/11 tribute as a part of the 2,996 movement.
Fly those flags on Monday!
September 8th, 2006 at 11:50 am
Common Sense And War…
If the United States and Israel succumb to the “folly” of proportional conflict we will be destroyed by the enemies of Freedom. If you doubt it, you have no understanding of History, nor of Human Nature….
September 8th, 2006 at 11:55 am
Leftists and Drug Cartels Gain in Mexico…
Also notice the update about prying information from DHS about military incursions into the US……
September 8th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
The Clash’s Weekend Open Forum : Featuring The Trackback Kraken…
Well, it’s that time again - weekends rock! Feel free to leave a comment with the URL for one of your interesting posts, September 8, 9, and 10!……
September 8th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
US Navy Welcomes The USS Bill Clinton…
The US Navy welcomed the latest member of its fleet today.
The USS William Jefferson Clinton (CVS1) set sail today from its home port of Vancouver, BC.
The ship is the first of its kind in the Navy……
September 8th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
It is censorship, plain & simple.
I have often said that it is the Democrats who are quick to put the jackboot to the neck of Americans who don’t agree with their “free” speech.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
Angel, here’s another quote for you. I borrowed it from Jasn at TexasRainmaker.
“…America has always been stronger when we have not only proclaimed free speech, but listened to it. Yes, in every war, there have been those who demand suppression and silencing…”
“Dismissing dissent is not only wrong, but dangerous when America’s leadership is unwilling to admit mistakes, unwilling to engage in honest discussion of the nation’s direction, and unwilling to hold itself accountable for the consequences of decisions made without genuine disclosure, or genuine debate…”
The person speaking was none other than John F-ing Kerry, delivered in Apr 06.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Gee what if ABC morphs the program into a pro Clinton piece after they get done “repairing” it?
We used to call it bait and switch.
I wouldn’t put much faith in anything remotely dealing with ABC or related to Disney (pink pride park)
The problem with free speech is the same problem with free downloads. The crap comes through with the good stuff and the crap does a lot more damage.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Thank y’all so so much .It helps a great deal to hear others’ views when one gets despondent……..ok ok…Time to “snap out of it!” and enjoy Life!
Thanks AC for posting the letter..very telling indeed.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
The threat against Disney: Un’ Frickin’ Believable!
September 8th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
PLANET MORONIA: Anyone Surprised?…
Clintons call to censor ABC 9/11 drama The New York Post has posted a story that reports, “A furious Bill Clinton is warning ABC that its mini-series ‘The Path to 9/11’ grossly misrepresents his pursuit of……
September 8th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
Open Trackback Weekend…
Open trackback weekend long party! Bring your own post! Other OTA’s; Woman Honor Thyself The Crazy World of Samantha Burns…
September 8th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
I have always been among those who believed that the greatest freedom of speech was the greatest safety,…..
Freedom of speech only appears to be a simple and a straightforward idea.
Since we are ruled by elites whose religion is ‘moral relativity, freedom of speeach becomes a relative item as well.
September 8th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Home At Last…
Video courtesy of Aubrey J. (see more of his videos)
Aubrey J’s Photo of the day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So What’s Everybody Talking About?
September 8 - 10, 2006
Just link and trackback to this post. Nothing to it but to do it.
~*…
September 8th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Muslim Humor: You’ll Die Laughing…
One of my favorite bloggers has an indepth look at muslim humor. Be forewarned, it’s a little macabre, not for the faint of heart. But then, blowing men, women and children up in restaurants or flying planes into buildings is not for the faint of…
September 8th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
Weekend (Open) Must-Read List [09.09.06]…
Best conservative articles online, plus open trackback party….
September 8th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Wiki edits Lewinsky Entry after call from Clinto…
When Clinton saw how easy it was to intimidate ABC, he quickly made a call to Wikipedia demanding that they change the intro to their article on Monica Lewinsky:…
September 8th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
Iran’s Ahmadinejad Calls for Purge of Liberals…
International Herald Tribune
TEHRAN, Iran Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged students Tuesday to push for a purge of liberal and secular teachers from universities, in another sign of his determination to stamp a strong Islamic…
September 8th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
[...] more at Woman Honor Thyself [...]
September 8th, 2006 at 8:56 pm
Definitely a different response, now that the shoes on the other foot, and very telling how ABC has collapsed under pressure when it comes to the Clintonians and the Demofascist, but not when it’s Bush related.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:58 pm
Allah Made Me Funny - Official Muslim Comedy Tour,…
Imagine it’s 1940 and you’re sitting in the Zwie Pfennig Normales Cabaret in Berlin. Johannes Annalpfisdten is the stand-up comedy act for the night.
Guten Abend, meine Damen und Herren. Und to the two Juden in the front row, sieg heil, fur dose w…
September 9th, 2006 at 9:07 am
Top Ten (Profound) Headlines…
Perhaps you’re not the normal one after all.
……
September 9th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Never Forget (open)…
I RememberLucia CrifasiWTC
Apettando il 5° anniversario dell’11 Settembre vi consiglio di non perdervi la replica del documentario “Inside 9/11″ che verrà trasmesso in due puntate Sabato 9 alle 14 e Domenica 10 alle 16 su National G…
September 9th, 2006 at 8:05 pm
The Path to the Path to 9/11…
I think ABC really has no choice now but to pull The Path to 9/11. Clinton’s lawyers have gotten into the act. I think, however, ABC could salvage some of its investment by making a docudrama about the suppression of……
September 9th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
2996 tribute to victims of 9/11 - Terrence E Adder…
Before 9/11 the only view I had of the New York City skyline was from the top floor of my home in New Jersey. On any day I could look out the window and see the upper 30 floors of the World Trade Center.
When both buildings disappeared from view t…..
September 10th, 2006 at 7:36 am
Germany’s Fast Aid after Katrina and “Role Reversal”…
One year ago, ninety experts from Germany’s Technisches Hilfswerk or THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) were quickly deployed to pump floodwater out of New Orleans and nearby parishes. The American Quaker Economist was “truly surprised by the …
September 10th, 2006 at 9:54 am
FREEDOM CAN BE “ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE”..OR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT AVAILABLE TO MANKIND…I SINCERELY HOPE WE ALL SEE IT THE RIGHT WAY….
September 10th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Observations from a Padded Room…
The following ramblings are just that: since the world has turned into such a crazy place, being inside a padded room looking out seems safe!
……
September 10th, 2006 at 4:11 pm
March of the Emporers…
Remember the movie March of the Penquins?
Now theres March of the Emporers….
September 10th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Angel, This link http://www.redstate.com/911clips Has six scenes from the ABC docudrama, “The Path to 9/11″ I know at least three of them are being changed and/or deleted. While whatching them, my thought was that if there is any shred of truth to this (and I suspect there is) then this is very damning and shows just how incompetant Clinton’s administration really was.
Hat tip to Speed of Thought at http://homepage.mac.com/sbooneaz/iblog/
You know it is interesting that that Clinton’s team is sic-ing the lawyers on ABC and threatening them saying that the story is fiction yet they are not charging Libel. Now if it was really fictitious wouldn’t they go after the real legal charge that would be guaranteed to shut the entire program down? HMMMM… Maybe it really is spin.