CPound, I find it really troubling that views like this seem so wide spread in the US today:
"Ok, here's the deal on "secret police". We do
indeed have freedom of speech and writing in the US. You just can't be
stupid about it. Why on earth would you press the envelope by
saying/publishing anti-government slogans during a time of
international crisis and terrorism? Like the Dixie Chicks for example.
What the !@#$
were they thinking? That was just moronic. You can say/write what you
want, but c'mon, be smart and loyal to the country you live in. If you
don't like it you can always leave. No one is keeping you here."
The moment you say that you are not allowed to express anti-government
views only because it would somehow be disloyal to your country you
have effectly given up democracy!!!
Try to understand the following: "George W Bush is not
the US". It does not make me a non-patriot to disagree with a
particular administration's views no matter what the situation is. As
long as I am not doing anything illegal I am exercising my freedom of speech.
And no, I will not leave. Why should I have to leave this country only
because I do not agree with you??? What kind of sentiment is that? What
you in effect is saying is "I do not respect people that do not share
my views and if they don't share my views they should chose to leave".
Such arrogance and intolerance. A democracy is based on the majority's
respect of the minority, give that up and you do not have a democracy.
You have an un-free state.
I find it amazing that the propaganda machine has been able to equate
questioning Bush or his henchmen with being un-American or less of a
patriot. Being able to express dissent and opposing views is exactly
what makes a democracy great and this is so fundamentally important
that i cringe and get physically ill to my stomach when I see views
such as what CPound expressed above.
CPound, I am sure you did not mean to but in effect, if everyone was to
follow your 'advice' above, the moment that happened the US would no
longer be a democracy. Voltaire said something like 'I despise your
view of opinion but I would die defending your right to express it' (I
apologize for not using the exact correct quote). Now that is the
cornerstone of democracy. The moment you veer from that you are just a
few steps on a slippery slope away from giving up your freedom.