Reply #5: shortly after 9/11 [View All]

[UpInArms]

9/30/01 to be exact -

I had an in-person confrontation with a winger that I know - it became an almost full fledged shouting match in a very public place.

Afterwards (because we were working in an open market atmosphere), I went over to this person and said - you know, it really doesn't matter if we disagree about all of these things - you do have a right to your opinion and to speak it out as loudly as you want - that is what freedom of speech is about and I will defend your right to say your mind with everything within me.

She looked at me and it was as if a dam broke within her - knowing that no matter how we disagreed on everything else, we both agreed upon the premise of our whole nation - the Constitution.

Only if there is an open discourse of opinion - and remember there are at least three sides to every coin; the top the bottom and the ring around it, can we progress into the future.

When any group becomes so powerful that through force the discourse is silenced - then we have a problem.

It is important always to recognize who and what is driving any message that seems to dominate any discussion. Are there ulterior motives or are there some underlying dangers? Those are important pieces of knowledge.

But the free flow of information and knowledge is still the foundation for rational thought.

Thanks for posting the news article - it was full of good information and I have gone to Aftergood's site and signed up for his newsletter.