If you like having free speech, then shut up!

[DemoVet]

(From an email LTE in the Olympian)

"I just read a number of thoughts on the war and most of them, unfortunately, were negative. Let me just say this to all of America: EVERY MILITARY MEMBER, INCLUDING MY HUSBAND, HAS FOUGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO MAINTAIN FREE SPEECH; SO SHUT UP!!!!!"

More:
http://www.theolympian.com/home/services/newsroom/interaction/WarLetters/
War Thoughts -The Olympian.

What kills me about posts like this is that Bush et al are blithely screwing the troops at every turn, not even counting sending them to Iraq in the first place, while people like us are doing more raising hell than any republican about how poorly our troops are being treated. I wonder if she'll be saying the same thing after his 5th or 6th tour? Or even if, lord forbid, he comes home on a stretcher or in a box? Her (and our) freedoms are more endangered by John Ashcroft than they ever were by Saddam Hussein.

[Colin Ex]

1. That is hilarious.

"You have free spech, so shut up!"

Somebody is a genius.

-C

[sangh0]

2. Use this link to fire back

http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/support_the_troops.html

[acmavm]

3. That woman is the perfect argument for why we need more help for

the mentally ill in our country. She's probably so deranged that she doesn't even know how incredibly stupid her statement is.

My answer: Well, since he fought for my right of free speech, let me take this opportunity to say that you can _________________! Please feel free to use you imagination when you fill in the blank.

[Don_G]

4. It's Spreading

Hampton University's administration confiscated their college paper after a First Amendment conference.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031771760778&path=!news&s=1045855934842

[HFishbine]

6. Scary

"At private schools, it's up to the university to decide whether the First Amendment is a good idea or not."

[Jester_11218]

5. I am doing several radio shows on this topic

I have several military guests on upcomming shows. Please tell your friends about this.
Thanks,
Jesse

http://radio.tvnewslies.org - The schedule is posted here.

[Guaranteed]

7. That's a good thread.

I also liked this idea:

"Being called a traitor is no joke, in my mind, but becoming a personal slander on my citizenship and my allegiance to my country, which is no less than any so-called "patriot". It's also potentially dangerous, as those of us who demonstrably disagree with this regime may find ourselves physically harmed (as Coulter advocated) because we show this with a statement or a bumper sticker. Is it time to begin exploring the notion of a class action suit against some of these demagogues? The legal criteria for treason seem to be pretty clear-cut. If legally feasible, it would seem to be a slam-dunk against them: in order to prevail against such a suit, they would have to prove that each and every liberal and democrat had actively betrayed this country, a standard that would be impossible to attain. Gratuitously branding people as "traitors" fails the free speech test if it defames them without proof or incites violence against them."


Let's file some lawsuits. We have a case here.