Wednesday, June 14, 2006
WHO REALLY THREATENS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?
Newsmax (via Midnight Blue):
This is a joke, right? We have jihadists threatening to kill cartoonists, and these two are going on about a book by Ann Coulter, asking as elected officials that businesses "stand with us" and not sell it?
Indeed, imagine if Republicans or conservatives had made the same exact "request"? What do you think they would be branded as by those same two NJ Democratic state legislators? Probably a more polite variation on what this "progressive" writes. I won't link to rubbish like this -- which towards the end of it includes an outright threat against her person. If you are interested, you may cut and paste and visit it at: http://www.bluejersey.net/showDiary.do?diaryId=1667
To return to sanity (can you imagine I mean a wire service?), the A.P. had this:
It's not censorship because they haven't yet introduced a bill banning its publication. Nor would they try, because even they aren't likely foolish enough to believe such a bill were it to become law (by some miracle) would stand up to constitutional scrutiny for a micro-second. But as elected officials their using such threatening language at an author who is solely expressing her opinion is damn near a boundary of some kind.
Yes, yes, of course we all know Coulter is "the devil in a variety of outfits". But assuming one believes in the complete separation of church and state too, ever consider this? For heaven's sake Borders Books, for example, sells perhaps the most heinous book of "opinion" ever written: "Mein Kampf".
Given that fact, regardless of whether one loathes Coulter's views -- as those NJ politicians and that "progressive" blogger do obviously -- how can one POSSIBLY justify "requesting" any retailer not stock her book (or any book, for that matter) of political opinion? Essentially, when did American politicians -- even ones from "the center of civilization": New Jersey (I'm kidding! Kidding!) -- get even the moral power to "request" a "ban" on the retail sale of an opinion book? ¶ by Robert, Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Newsmax (via Midnight Blue):
...In a joint press release issued Friday, New Jersey Assemblywomen Joan Quigley and Linda Stender say they want New Jersey retailers to "ban the sale of [Coulter's] book throughout the state."..
..."Ann Coulter's criticism of 9/11 widows, whose only desire since the attacks have been to repair their shattered lives and protect other families from the horrors they have experienced, is motivated purely by petty greed and hate," the two Democrats complained.
"Coulter's vicious characterizations and remarks are motivated by greed and her desire to sell books . . . She is a leech trying to turn a profit off perverting the suffering of others."...
..."No one in New Jersey should buy this book and allow Ann Coulter to profit from her hate-mongering. We are asking New Jersey retailers statewide to stand with us and express their outrage by refusing to carry or sell copies of Coulter's book. Her hate-filled attacks on our 9/11 widows has no place on New Jersey bookshelves."...
..."Ann Coulter's criticism of 9/11 widows, whose only desire since the attacks have been to repair their shattered lives and protect other families from the horrors they have experienced, is motivated purely by petty greed and hate," the two Democrats complained.
"Coulter's vicious characterizations and remarks are motivated by greed and her desire to sell books . . . She is a leech trying to turn a profit off perverting the suffering of others."...
..."No one in New Jersey should buy this book and allow Ann Coulter to profit from her hate-mongering. We are asking New Jersey retailers statewide to stand with us and express their outrage by refusing to carry or sell copies of Coulter's book. Her hate-filled attacks on our 9/11 widows has no place on New Jersey bookshelves."...
This is a joke, right? We have jihadists threatening to kill cartoonists, and these two are going on about a book by Ann Coulter, asking as elected officials that businesses "stand with us" and not sell it?
Indeed, imagine if Republicans or conservatives had made the same exact "request"? What do you think they would be branded as by those same two NJ Democratic state legislators? Probably a more polite variation on what this "progressive" writes. I won't link to rubbish like this -- which towards the end of it includes an outright threat against her person. If you are interested, you may cut and paste and visit it at: http://www.bluejersey.net/showDiary.do?diaryId=1667
It looks like Aryan Nation sweetheart, Annie Coulter, has jumped the shark. Her latest screed attacks 9-11 widows because they have the temerity to question and challenge Annie's fuerher, George Bush...
To return to sanity (can you imagine I mean a wire service?), the A.P. had this:
...Assemblywomen Joan M. Quigley, D-Hudson, and Linda Stender, D-Union, on Thursday called on New Jerseyans to stop buying the book, "Godless: The Church of Liberalism," and for retailers in the state to stop selling it...
It's not censorship because they haven't yet introduced a bill banning its publication. Nor would they try, because even they aren't likely foolish enough to believe such a bill were it to become law (by some miracle) would stand up to constitutional scrutiny for a micro-second. But as elected officials their using such threatening language at an author who is solely expressing her opinion is damn near a boundary of some kind.
Yes, yes, of course we all know Coulter is "the devil in a variety of outfits". But assuming one believes in the complete separation of church and state too, ever consider this? For heaven's sake Borders Books, for example, sells perhaps the most heinous book of "opinion" ever written: "Mein Kampf".
Given that fact, regardless of whether one loathes Coulter's views -- as those NJ politicians and that "progressive" blogger do obviously -- how can one POSSIBLY justify "requesting" any retailer not stock her book (or any book, for that matter) of political opinion? Essentially, when did American politicians -- even ones from "the center of civilization": New Jersey (I'm kidding! Kidding!) -- get even the moral power to "request" a "ban" on the retail sale of an opinion book? ¶ by Robert, Wednesday, June 14, 2006
