About the First Amendment ...

You can read about the contest and the prize here.

The Blues Brothers, and today's NAZIs.

Catharsis

Making of Blues Brothers One of my fave movies of all time.  I remember watching it with my 7 year old son. On a school night. He liked it so much that we watched it again.  I was scolded by his mother the next morning when he had trouble getting up for church.  When I found this last night on You Tube, I remembered the scene where Jake and Elwood ran into a road blocked by an American Nazi Party demonstration on a bridge. Elwood runs them off the bridge into the East Lagoon.  That scene was based on "Skokie Affair" (In 1977 Frank Collin, the leader of National Socialist Party of America, announced the party's intention to march through Skokie, Illinois. Wiki.)  The case began in the local Cook County court, when the Village government successfully sued, under the caption Village of Skokie v. NSPA, for an injunction to bar the demonstration.  But wait! The —ACLU— appealed on behalf of NSPA.  The case eventually went to the SCOTUS. ... the Supreme Court's 1977 NSPA decision is that a group's request to engage in a parade or demonstration involving public display of the Nazi swastika is a symbolic form of free speech that is at least presumptively entitled to First Amendment protections. In other words, the Court's decision implies that First Amendment protection would not be denied to use of the swastika as a form of "fighting words". I doubt there's an anti-fa snot alive who knows any of this history. If they did, their minds would explode.

Rutgers student fired ...

Rutgers student fired from campus newspaper after writing ‘illegal alien’ in column

More Academia Bullying

Students walk out of veteran’s speech to protest his use of term ‘radical Islam’ More than 100 students walked out on retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Allen West on Thursday as he began a speech at Saint Louis University to discuss the threat of radical Islam. Had the students stayed, they would have heard a speech on how radical Islamic terrorism has reached American shores, and how the U.S. government is obfuscating the issue, and in some cases apparently covering it up, calling terrorist attacks on U.S. soil workplace violence or other names. The students protesters — led by the SLU Rainbow Alliance and the Muslim Students’ Association — had arrived early and filled many of the seats in the two-story auditorium where West was slated to speak. As he took the stage they stood up and filed out. At issue is West’s use of the term “radical Islam” — also the subject of his speech. Last week an administrator at Saint Louis University told the conservative and Republican students organizing the talk that they were not allowed to use the words “radical Islam” on advertisements for the event, reported Young America’s Foundation, which sponsored the talk. In response, West wrote an article saying he had been “censored,” called modern college students who seek safe spaces “little cupcakes,” and added ... [full] SLU President Fred Pestello, fearing, I guess, an ugly demonstration, coddled students with an email saying he stood in “solidarity” with them, and called West a “provocateur.”  Provocateur? As opposed to "peacemaker, reconciler, uniter?  Neither definition fits.  The conservative organizers had every expectation that they would be allowed to hear free expression of ideas; this is a University, wot?  Still, the most troublesome aspect of this saga is that bullies like the Rainbow Alliance, and Muslim Students’ Association (as they are wont to do) acted to keep interested students from hearing the very speech they arranged. Using the the dreaded Hitler invocation; which group, the conservative hosts, or left activists, most resemble Brown Shirts?   That's right.

OK, my ox has been gored

Dear Catholic Online Reader,       I deeply regret to inform you that right now there is a page on Facebook, with the headline: The Virgin Mary Should've Aborted      That is the most terrible insult to Jesus and Mary that I have ever seen or heard!      So I am rushing this message out to you, because I believe you are a person who dearly loves Jesus, the Son of God, and Mary, His mother.      And I'm asking you to help us defend their honor by taking this action: Tell Facebook's Mark Zuckerber: "Take Down This Page!" Saying, "Virgin Mary Should've Aborted" Yes I am offended, disgusted and pissed.  But, if this guy is a United States citizen he has the right. If he isn't ... whatever. Ahem.

First Amendment rights WHAT?

When Progressives are in charge                                                                  West Point football coach being INVESTIGATED after team prayer was recorded on video A video of coach Jeff Monken’s prayer at the U.S. military academy was posted online and sparked outrage. An anti-religion group, called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said the video violated the First Amendment right of some of the cadets. Once more:  "An anti-religion group, called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said the video violated the First Amendment right of some of the cadets." [AWK] The amendment as adopted in 1791 reads as follows: 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. Do I have to say it? .... No?  Thank God.

Good; Bad; Ugly

THE GOOD.  THE BAD.  THE UGLY While the University of Chicago affirms the right to free speech, Roger Williams U. hires a Social Justice Warrior to squelch the First Amendment.  Then things get really ugly.

Brock Seething FOX

OBAMUNISM, The Party, When Govt attacks critical media ... "... I have to say that if you watch Fox News on a regular basis, it is a constant venue. They will find folks who make me mad. I don’t know where they find them. They’re all like, “I don’t want to work. I just want a free Obama Phone, or whatever.” And that becomes an entire narrative that gets worked up. And very rarely do you hear an interview of a waitress, which is much more typical — who is raising a couple of kids and doing everything right but still can’t pay the bills."  Mr. Disingenuous A proper retort: KIRSTEN POWERS: ‘IT’S NOT THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT’ TO DELEGITIMIZE FOX NEWS In the latest episode of the American Enterprise Institute’s “Banter” podcast, Fox News regular Kirsten Powers, author of the new book, “The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech,” took aim at the Obama White House for the efforts it had made early in President Barack Obama’s presidency to delegitimize Fox News. Powers explained this was just one instance of the regular occurring theme of some of the left side of the ideological spectrum trying to limit free speech. “It’s been gradual,” she said. “It started out with the administration’s, what I call the war on Fox News, when they said Fox News is not a legitimate organization and started this really concerted campaign to delegitimize a news organization. That was the first time where I went, ‘Hmm, this doesn’t seem right.” You know, something is a little off here. This isn’t really the role of the government. It isn’t really something the White House should be lending its stature to and the fact that they were unable – as you remember I voted for Obama and he was very popular when he first came in. And the media was completely enthralled by him. So the idea you couldn’t have one media outlet that wasn’t on board with to me was chilling. It was like, ‘Wow, you need everybody worshipping you.’ So that was concerning.” Powers said at the time she saw it as an isolated incident, but then as the years went by, there were more incidents that caught he attention.

PAM GELLER- ALL AMERICAN

The punishment for riding on the same bike as a boy

"Pamela Geller’s abuse of free speech" WaPost and other cowards Game show contestant Daniel Hoffman (Bobby Moynihan) and his celebrity teammate, Reginald VelJohnson (Kenan Thompson), must draw the prophet Muhammad if they want to win $1 million. SNL Tip of the Hat to SNL for having the balls to spoof all of these ↓ ass hats (and more) Even FOX joined the Blame Pam Geller crowd. Van Susteren: Geller Was "Mocking An Entire Religion Of Muslims" 6 Reasons Pamela Geller’s Muhammad Cartoon Contest Is No Different From Selma Bill O’Reilly is an idiot Pamela Geller’s abuse of free speech [Washington Post Column] Media Hits New Low (hyperbole.  impossible to sink lower) Pamela Geller’s Critics Are Proving Her Point

Free Speech

WHAT THIS GUMMINT DOES

“ "....but I will defend to the death your right to say it"  . Rev. Rob Schenck has driven a wedge between pro-life and pro-Constitution conservatives and libertarians. He gave a speech for gun control at the big demonstration in Washington. http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/01/22/pro-life-leader-supporting-gun-control-part-of-being-pro-life/ I support the Second Amendment. If I have to stop supporting the Second Amendment to be against abortion, well then, I won't be against abortion. # posted by  Skoonj : 1/22/15, 4:24 PM Do church signs clutter the right-of-way more than political signs do? As the oral arguments progressed last Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court in Reed v. Town of Gilbert, Ariz., the justices focused on the questions which, once answered, will clarify the First Amendment issues that this case presents. The case involves a temporary sign ordinance in Gilbert that treats signs differently depending on what they talk about. Political signs get the best treatment — they can be as large as 32 square feet, unlimited in number in the right-of-way, and can stay in place up to five months before an election. In contrast, directional signs, like those of Pastor Clyde Reed’s church, can only be a smallish six square feet (two by three, for example) and can only be up 12 hours before the event to which the sign pertains. This means, for Pastor Reed’s 10 a.m. church service, the signs cannot go up until 10 p.m. the night before. Obviously, darkness does not enhance the ability of people to see the signs inviting them to the church service. [Full] Student journalist Daniel Mael on free speech and the campus culture war “the fact that black people have not burned this country down is beyond me” - November 25, 2014 “i have no sympathy for the nypd officers who were murdered today” - December 20, 2014 “lmao, all i just really dont have sympathy for the cops who were shot. i hate this racist f***ing country” - December 21, 2014 - Brandeis junior Khadija Lynch’s tweets, as reported by fellow student Daniel Mael on Truth Revolt Daniel Mael, a 22-year-old student journalist at Brandeis University, first reported on fellow student Khadija Lynch’s tweets in the aftermath of the death of NYPD Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. Lynch, a junior, had served as an undergraduate department representative in the university’s African and Afro-American Studies Department — until Mael’s reporting led the department to ask Lynch to step down. [Full] Skoonj provided a valuable reminder about our First Amendment guarantee of free speech.  Just this morning I ran across those two  examples.  In the first, the Supremes will evidently decide whether towns can allow or disallow road signs based on their content.  Justice Scalia said during oral arguments, “Treat all signs the same.” Simple. In the second, Khadija Lynch—a Liberal twathead (what else?) attending Brandeis U—was turned in for what amounts to perceived hate speech by another student. Hey, people have to endure knowing that Nancy Pelosi is allowed to speak in public.  Tough.  Democracy is messy.   I always like to find the nexus between  political power and threats to freedom, and in this instance will point the finger at Clinton's  Secretary of Health and Human Services,  Donna E. Shalala. As Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison she imposed a broad speech code subjecting students to disciplinary action for communications that were perceived as hate speech.  Things have gone to hell since.  Maybe we should hang Shalala after a proper trial.   Whoops. Did I say that out loud?  Free speech.  ”

Progressives-The Same Everywhere

What I See “ GO F**K YOURSELF YOU COMMUNIST TURD! It appears the Australia’s first libertarian senator has some harsh words for “anti discrimination leftists” who wish to crack down on free speech. An anti free speech social Democrat named Gary Burns in Australia got a firm rebuke when he wrote to senator David Leyonjhelm about how Australia’s multiculturalism is the law. Leyonjhelm responded harshly, saying “Go fuck yourself you communist turd.” Australia has free speech codes, not a First Amendment like the United States. People can be prosecuted for offending others. It’s pretty disgusting and sad, but this exchange is a thing of beauty. Praise to Senator Leyonjhelm for his guts! Via Tommy Lee Smith-a-roni ”

Obama's Gestapo

Police State          TEXT “ (The White House petition has gone missing) That is a snippet from yesterday's church bulletin.  I made note of it because it is, to my knowledge, the first time a parish priest has come this close to condemning anything this filthy Obama government (silence of the West) have perped.  Now this ... IRS Strikes Deal With Atheists To Monitor Churches First Amendment: Government's assault on religious liberty has hit a new low as the IRS (used by Obama as a personal  Gestapo) settles with atheists by promising to monitor sermons for mentions of the right to life and traditional marriage. A lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) asserted that the Internal Revenue Service ignored complaints about churches' violating their tax-exempt status by routinely promoting political issues, legislation and candidates from the pulpit. The FFRF has temporarily withdrawn its suit in return for the IRS's agreement to monitor sermons and homilies for proscribed speech that the foundation believes includes things like condemnation of gay marriage and criticism of ObamaCare for its contraceptive mandate. The irony of this agreement is that it's being enforced by the same Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division of the IRS that was once headed by Lois "Fifth Amendment" Lerner and that openly targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups. Among the questions that the IRS asked of those targeted groups was the content of their prayers. Those who objected to the monitoring of what is said and done in mosques for signs of terrorist activity have no problem with this one, though monitoring what's said in houses of worship is a clear violation of the First Amendment. Can you say "chilling effect"? Congress can make no laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion. So it's not clear where the IRS gets off doing just that by spying on religious leaders lest they comment on issues and activities by government that are contrary to or impose on their religious consciences. Our country was founded by people fleeing this kind of government-monitored and mandated theology last practiced in the Soviet Union. The FFRF cites as its authority the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which states that tax-exempt groups cannot endorse candidates. A 2009 court ruling determined that the IRS must staff someone to monitor church politicking. The FFRF claims that the IRS has not adhered to the ruling and that the settlement amounts to enforcing both the Johnson Amendment and the court ruling. Read More At Investor's Business Daily: ”

RedSkins Gear

The Washington "What's The Fuss?" Redskins   21% OFF ALL ORDERS! Enjoy the Longest Day of the Year!     Use Code: SUNNYLONGDAY

Rushbo Redskins

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“Cheer if you want, but scoffers need to remember that no one is safe when the protections of a constitutional republic are stripped away.” El Rushbo  At the beginning of this year, Limbaugh predicted the landmark decision handed down Wednesday by the Patent and Trademark Office. He told listeners Jan. 9 that, “the way the feds are going to get the Redskins is the federal trademark office.” Sure enough, “that’s exactly what the Redskins are dealing with today,” Limbaugh said on the air. “I want you to imagine the federal government eliminating your private-property rights due to the interpretation of political correctness by five people, or a very tiny minority of people,” said Limbaugh. “The tiny minority of people are ostensibly, they say, offended by something that you own. (…) Because of interpretation of political correctness, because they’re liberals, because they’re statists and authoritarians and assigned to them that kind of sweeping power.” The radio host went on to say that what happened to the Redskins is neither the first nor the last “assault on private-property rights” citizens can expect to witness. “Cheer if you want,” Limbaugh said, but scoffers need to remember that “no one is safe when the protections of a constitutional republic are stripped away.” He warned his audience not to take media reports on the Redskins decision at face value. Mainstream outlets are naming the source of the decision as the Patent and Trademark Office. However, Limbaugh pointed out, “This is Barack Obama. This is the executive branch. All this stuff is coming out of the executive branch. All of this, well, tyranny.” Limbaugh added that “the people responsible” for Wednesday’s decision, such as “civil rights” activists and other “progressives,” will be smugly satisfied – but not for long. “They never are. They’ll gloat maybe for a while, but they’ll just be angrier at those things remaining that offend them, and will set out to attack them,” too. Finally, Limbaugh predicted the law of unintended consequences would kick in shortly, as it always does after a left-wing victory. If the decision stands, he pointed out, “anybody can market [the 'racist' Redskins logo.] Anybody can use it. Anybody can make money off of it.” In other words: Americans may soon be seeing the Redskins name and logo on more merchandise than they ever did before. “And I don’t think that’s quite what [activists] had in mind,” Limbaugh said. Read more  Sent from my Sinclair ZX81

”

What rights?

U.S. Patent office cancels Redskins trademark registration, says name is disparaging 'stroke o the pen' government

Pricks

Nanny State: One regulation away from total bliss          The Police State                MFOCSOTW “   Yannow, I was saving up some nominees for this week’s award like Oprah, one of the richest women in the world playing the race card. GMAFB! She said that some girl in a Swiss store refused to show her a handbag because she didn’t think she could afford it. The girl denies it. After Oprah’s antics lately, I side with the girl in the store. Evidently, Oprah pulled crap like this right before a movie she had coming out. And she has a movie now. What a coincidence. But nothing can top the bullshit that happened in Missouri this week. There was a rodeo clown with an Obummer mask and the world went batshit crazy. Rampant racism in Missouri. Turns out there was a “mixed race” couple in the audience and they were offended. Yannow, there is sumpin’ in the Constitution called freedom of speech. Maybe y’all heard of it. It’s right there in the First Amendment. What I cannot find in the Constitution is someone’s right to not be offended. I’m offended that we got whiny ass people who get offended at the drop of a hat. Do y’all remember when Bush was president? Yannow, the guy that the libs called Chimpy or Bushitler? Did you know that there was a rodeo clown who wore a Bush mask? No big outcry there. Bush was hung and burned in effigy. No big outcry there. Someone even wrote a book [then movie,  Death of a President]  about the assassination of Bush which I know made many liberals progressives [ ... Da Crip nails it!] Speaking of police states  versus the U.S. Constutution,  Obama's SS have made hanging him in effigy a crime, or at least their warrant to harrass and detain the hangers. Which propmts the question, In Age of Obama, Hanging Effigys Of "That One" Are Now A Crime: Bush, Palin Effigys "Free Speech?" ” Ron Metz

Veteran arrested for "words"

Police State Culture                               Veteran arrested by FBI and Secret Service for non-violent Facebook posts “ Now what I was told by an FBI Agent, her name ... Agent Sherry Granger…she called me on my phone and told me that I am with the FBI and we have taken your son. And he has been arrested by the Chesterfield police department because he assaulted and resisted arrest.” “ The nature of Raub Brandon being arrested has come to no surprise to many since President Obama took office. In 2009, Homeland Security Department intelligence assessment released a report on American terrorism and unfairly characterized military veterans as right-wing extremists and other groups that they view could be domestic terrorists. [Full] I don't know what Raub Brandon posted on Facebook, but according to friends  it was "because of posts just like yours."  Unless he overtly threatened someone's life, I can't think of anything that wouldn't be covered by the First Amendment.  This video of his arrest doesn't show"resistance," nor a  Miranda  statement being read. . We'll see, but the fact is that this administration have displayed all the hallmarks of a nascent police state. ”