DCL has accused this blog of being anti-Semitic for use of the term “Fran Dreschery”. Really? True, I would have said “Fran Fine-ish” if I’d been the author but it was in a gust post. I am NOT disavowing the post but merely pointing out that I would have used a different term. I see either of those referring to a shrill tone, a tone that Fran Drescher made famous and is proud of. That someone would take that and turn it into a religious or political issue is rather amazing to me. To take it further and call it some kind of anti-Semitic accusation is more than outrageous.
I do use a lot of colorful language and I’m even fond of what some people call cussing. Hell, I can cuss like a f***ing Marine, or so I’ve been told. What you see on my blog is actually toned down a bit most of the time from what I originally wrote. Why? Because I often feel like I’m screaming in that forest where the tree fell and there was no one to hear. I’m trying to scream loud enough to be heard a bit beyond the bounds of the forest.
These days, the mainstream media tosses out terms like “terrorist” and “abuser”. In the past, it was “Nazi”, “Klan”, “Socialist”. Words tend to evoke strong emotions. Some of them intended, others not. Some take things out of context in order to massively escalate which is what DCL did. Doing that is just plain wrong. It’s intended to have a chilling effect on speech. And it just plain won’t work with me here.
The Ku Klux Klan is still around. They stand for most as an example of oppression. I would defend their rights of free speech. Why? Because those rights belong to us all. I may shiver at their words but the answer to objectionable speech is more speech. I even defend DCL’s right to free speech. I’m always a little startled by those who think they have a right to free speech everywhere and anywhere. No, that isn’t how free speech works. Email groups, public websites, even blogs have no obligation to allow others to speak. These are the speech forum of those who set them up. The answer to speech is more speech. Many of these forums do allow some amount of speech by others but it is at their discretion. Here, it is at mine and at my whim. I have no obligation to let others speak. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I find something worthy of guest posting as a primary posting. The item below was forwarded to me by an unusual number of people and I decided it was one of those worthy items.
I would defend the rights to the Ku Klux Klan to speak even while acknowledging that they often use that speech to promote oppression. Would you? I hope so and I hope you would also not want to be counted among them, amongst those promoting oppression.
“Cross posting permitted.”
I have been reading posts on many lists about the Houston, TX
bird seizure case (Gracia').
I am saddened, but more, I am angry, to see that SOME of the members of our
society have regressed to the point where SOME of you think that
"VIGILANTE JUSTICE" is preferable to the DUE
PROCESS which is supposed to be GUARANTEED TO ALL OF US under the U.S. CONSTITUTION.
Maybe you haven't regressed. Maybe you were never educated about DUE PROCESS in
the first place. Perhaps you fell asleep in civics class and never read that
document. Or maybe you just don't care, because you are perfect and YOU KNOW
that YOU will never be subjected to an illegal search or seizure, and that YOU
will never have your civil rights violated by any
quasi or real agents of our government.
Regardless of your excuse, your online comments show that you have no concept
of what DUE PROCESS is, or of how it is supposed to protect all of us against
the evils of an overbearing government and its agents.
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ACCEPT VIGILANTE JUSTICE - YOU ARE TODAY'S KU KLUX KLAN.
"We know they're guilty, we've seen the photos posted online - why bother
with things like the Constitution, warrants,
courts, sworn testimony, trials, or appeals? JUST HANG THEM NOW, AND GET IT
OVER WITH ...."
This is my personal comment to each and every one of you who has convicted the
Gracias in an "internet trial" simply because you have viewed some
photos posted online - SHAME ON YOU.
To those of you who believe in VIGILANTE JUSTICE and "internet
trials" - good luck finding an attorney willing to defend you pro bono
when it's your
turn to be the accused.
Genny Wall, JD
Attorney at Law
Sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution
-----------------
I resigned my law license a long time ago. Technically, I’m no longer “sworn” to uphold the US Constitution. By the grace of higher powers, I was born with protected rights and I believe that with those rights come obligations to defend them. Many jobs and positions require one to also swear to that obligation to uphold and defend. Sadly, all too many speak the words of oaths and promptly forget or ignore them. It is always refreshing to see when someone honors their oath in their signature line.
I will never understand how one can promote oppressing the rights of others by exercising the very rights they promote oppressing. I simply can’t wrap my mind around that concept but this is exactly what the Klan does. I will continue to defend their right to do so but I will use my free speech to defend and promote the underlying rights rather than oppression. I hope you will too.