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 Will
Bush veto 'thought police'? Opponents say hate crimes plan would
destroy American freedoms (WorldNetDaily.com
05-03-07) Lady Liberty says: She opposes
virtually all hate crime legislation, but this proposed law is particularly
egregious. She'd like to believe that the president will veto it,
but given his past history of pandering to voting blocs as well
as ignorance of the Constitution when it suits him, she's not hopeful.
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 Another
75 suspended for opposing 'gay' day Christian students with
Bible messages on shirts booted (WorldNetDaily.com
05-03-07) Lady Liberty says: Schools
bring this kind of issue on themselves when they permit such demonstrations
as the "Day of Silence." She's not opposed to such demonstrations,
mind you, but she most certainly does oppose the one-sided
airing of issues with two obvious sides. As long as the protests
remain peaceful, she believes schools either need to permit all
of them (under equal restrictions, whatever those may be) or none
of them.
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Imus
May Sue CBS, Get $40 Million Payday (NewsMax.com
05-02-07) Lady Liberty says: The fact
that Imus has hired an attorney with a reputation for defending
the First Amendment is telling. She maintains that free speech includes
that which some might find offensive and is still appalled that
some would disagree.
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Let
Viewers Decide, Lawmaker Says of Islamic Movie (Cybercast
News Service 05-02-07) Lady Liberty says:
She can't pretend that she knows enough about this matter that she
can definitively say that PBS is wrong. Let her just say that PBS
should be basing its judgment on educational value and quality,
and that its recent decisions concerning this as well as some other
religious content lead her to question the integrity of decision-makers
there. The fact that certain things are apparently being blocked
seems far more a propaganda ploy than the documentary in question!
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Airport
admits installing foot-washing benches But denies they're intended
for Muslim cab drivers (WorldNetDaily.com
05-02-07) Lady Liberty says: Airport
officials can claim all they like that they didn't build the foot-washing
benches for Muslims. But if that's so, why don't other airports
also have such facilities? The Constitution forbids religious discrimination,
but it also prohibits religious favoritism, and that's all too clearly
what's happening here. She for one is sick to death and tired of
so many people tip-toeing around Muslims and making concessions
just for them.
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Colleges:
Bible verses contaminate textbooks Lawsuit to settle dispute
over religious references (WorldNetDaily.com
05-02-07) Lady Liberty says: She's
not prepared to consider the schools' act either discriminatory
or not at this point. She would point out, however, that any textbook
that fails to offer accurate science — and creationism isn't
science — should be summarily excluded as should those textbooks
which would mandate violence ("thou shalt not suffer a witch
to live," for example, or the admonishment that homosexuals
should be put to death). The same guidelines ought to apply to every
religion, by the way...
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Ga.
Schools Cautious on Bible Classes (AP via Breitbart.com
05-01-07) Lady Liberty says: They'd
best be cautious! While she can't argue the influence of the Bible
on everything from literature to the conquistadors, there's a very
fine line from teaching the book as just a book albeit an influential
one, and teaching a philosophy.
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After
Imus and Rosie, Are O'Reilly, Beck Next? (NewsMax.com
05-01-07) Lady Liberty says: She sincerely
hopes not! The precedent set in the Imus matter is already having
unfortunate repercussions. When will some people learn that freedom
of speech means freedom of whatever speech they'd care to utter
rather than that which is "approved?"
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Romney
criticizes McCain's campaign finance law (AP via The
Boston Globe 04-30-07) Lady Liberty says:
She can't argue with Romney on this one! Before she praises his
views on the First Amendment across the board, however, she'd be
interested in knowing what Romney would propose as an alternative
to McCain-Feingold to provide a much-needed clean-up of campaign
financing...
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Muslim
holidays rejected by board (The
Washington Times 04-26-07) Lady Liberty
says: If we start singling out all religions for special
treatment, we'll have more days off than otherwise. As far as she's
concerned, the only truly fair way to manage such things is to determine
a set number of days students can miss without repercussion, and
let them pick and choose which ones they want off. Of course, since
that actually makes sense, she doesn't expect the idea to be implemented
any time soon...
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1st
Amendment lawsuit names police Officer accused of violating
rights of marriage petitioners (WorldNetDaily.com
04-27-07) Lady Liberty says: From the
information presented here, it appears that the police were wrong
and the exhibitors were wronged. If that's the case, she hopes that
a judgement will reflect an appropriate ruling against law enforcement
officers who would abrogate their oath of office and discriminate
against some merely because they happen to personally disagree.
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Conn.
Flag Burner Gets Community Service (AP via Las
Vegas Sun 04-26-07) Lady Liberty says:
That may or may not be unreasonable. While on the surface of the
incident it appears a college student made a stupid mistake, it's
impossible to wonder if there isn't more to the story. She sincerely
hopes that there isn't.
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Christians
in bull's-eye in new 'hate crimes' plan Congress working to
create penalties for non-PC views (WorldNetDaily.com
04-26-07) Lady Liberty says: She's
already on record as being in opposition to this particular bill,
but the more she learns about it, the more horrified she is by its
potential repercussions. There's no question in her mind that passage
would mean a grievous — perhaps fatal — injury to our
rights of free speech and worship.
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Another
Cross in Limbo Awaiting Court Decision (Cybercast
News Service 04-25-07) Lady Liberty says:
She has far less of a problem with the cross display than she does
with the fact that it seems to be exclusive. That the federal government
determined to sell the small parcel on which the cross was erected
is disingenuous at best, and she hopes the larger matter is determined
to include whether or not others shouldn't have the same opportunity
to memorialize veterans of their own faiths.
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Put
Patient's Beliefs First, Liberal Religious Group Tells Health Providers
(Cybercast News
Service 04-25-07) Lady Liberty says:
She agrees and disagrees. First, she cannot in conscience suggest
that anyone be forced to do something against their religious mores
(for example, a Catholic doctor shouldn't be required to perform
abortions). But just as important, no one should be denied medical
care as they and their doctor see fit. She therefore supports the
school of thought that suggests a given service be available to
all comers but not necessarily from all providers.
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Students
punished for opposing 'gay' advocacy Dozens of 1st Amendment
lawsuits being considered against administrators (WorldNetDaily.com
04-25-07) Lady Liberty says: The real
problem here is the one-sided nature of these protests. She doesn't
object to the Day of Silence or other such protests, but she does
object — and strongly! — to the fact that comparable
(peaceful, non-disruptive, non-confrontational) protests aren't
permitted.
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Gun-rights
banner at Capitol draws outcry over its language (The Philadelphia
Inquirer 04-25-07) Lady Liberty says:
Accusations of racism are off base here. Contrary to what some liberals
might claim, not everything is about skin color or national heritage.
She personally appreciates the sentiment of the slogan very much,
and she can assure you she still would no matter the race of the
politician singled out for the attention.
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American
Airlines blocks WND as 'hate speech' Admirals Club blames filter
for rejecting independent site (WorldNetDaily.com
04-24-07) Lady Liberty says: As far
as she's concerned, there's only one thing more dangerous to free
speech than over-sensitive filters which can be set for political
bents, and that's the very idea of "hate speech" or "offensive
speech." Such judgments are not only subjective but threaten
to muzzle all but the most bland of commentary.
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FCC
Seeks To Rein In Violent TV Shows Agency Will Recommend Law
to Regulate Broadcast And Basic Cable Content (The Washington Post
04-24-07) Lady Liberty says: She already
gets the Family Channel — and the Cartoon Network, Nickelodian,
Lifetime... (for the record, she doesn't watch any of them). If
the government and a few easily offended groups get their way, every
channel will be the Family Channel. She takes offense to that!
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US
radio DJs in fresh racism row (BBC
News 04-24-07) Lady Liberty says:
Most of us knew that this is just the kind of thing that would follow
the Don Imus brouhaha, but even she's surprised at the rapidity
of the actions by would-be censors!
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Company
ordered not to fly U.S. flag Native Americans in Colorado won't
let workers display Stars and Stripes (WorldNetDaily.com
04-24-07) Lady Liberty says: She's
sorry, but the argument that the tribal land is a sovereign nation
is valid. It may be a little disingenuous to do so, but its well
within its rights to request the flag not be flown.
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Hip-hop's
Simmons wants to remove offensive words (Reuters
04-23-07) Lady Liberty says: Voluntary
censorship is fine with her. When it becomes mandatory, however,
she'll be on the side of those doing the offending since she knows
perfectly well she — and anybody else who says anything unpopular
at times — is next.
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The
Plot Against the First Amendment (Harper's
Magazine 04-21-07) Lady Liberty says:
The worst part of this entire scenario is the fact that we'll likely
never know when we actually lose something as important as the media's
ability to keep we, the people, informed.
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VA
Allows Wiccan Symbols on Headstones (AP via My
Way News 04-23-07) Lady Liberty says:
It's about time! These men and women died fighting for freedom,
and yet their own was utterly disrespected. (As an aside, she really,
really hates to say it, but she's betting the next battle will have
to do with the desecration of stones featuring the symbol...)
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Nation's
1st goal? Spread the Gospel Historic Jamestown guides told making
money was 2nd priority (WorldNetDaily.com
04-22-07) Lady Liberty says: She doesn't
care how politically incorrect such evangelism by the authorities
may be today, or even how discriminatory it may be under the Constitution.
That's no excuse for re-writing history, and she's delighted to
see history back in its proper place in Jamestown.
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Gideons
battling 2nd round of charges 'Why does Florida prosecute people
who hand out Bibles?' (WorldNetDaily.com
04-20-07) Lady Liberty says: Okay,
the men apparently did break the law. The real question here is
whether or not the law itself is a good one. While it doesn't discriminate
against religious expression per se (as the lawyers would have you
believe), it does discriminate against virtually all kinds of expression.
So her answer is: Nope. It's not a good law at all. And that's
what really needs to be addressed here.
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Texas
lawmakers won't require Bible classes (CNN
04-20-07) Lady Liberty says: She thinks
that's a good decision on the part of legislators. But she also
thinks that putting the Bible into the context of a history class
— elective or otherwise — is a bad idea. There are so
many fables combined with a little actual history that even dedicated
scholars find their pronouncements changing on occasion. The only
place for a Bible in high schools is in the library or in a philosophy
class. The only real good news here is that churches apparently
joined the fight against making the class a mandatory one —
and they should, given that the teaching of that book is really
their bailiwick! (Can you imagine the mess the goverment
would make of religion if it were permitted to do so?)
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Leading
'gay' blog attacks Farah's Christianity Compares faith in Jesus
with 'fascist mind control' (WorldNetDaily.com
04-19-07) Lady Liberty says: She agrees
the criticism of Farah and his online publication is a little harsh.
But then WorldNetDaily does make constant use of what a friend calls
"scare quotes" every time it uses the word "gay"
in a headline. Neither group is blameless, here. That being said,
if WND will kindly limit its scare quotes to editorial content,
and if the attacks on conservative Christians remain in the blogosphere
(indicating opinions as opposed to news from legitimate news outlets),
she also thinks both have the right to free speech.
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Judge
upholds ban on anti-gay T-shirts (Chicago
Sun-Times 04-18-07) Lady Liberty says:
It seems to her that these problems are of the schools' own manufacture
when they allow one viewpoint broad expression but not another.
It doesn't matter which side she agrees or disagrees with here,
but rather the fair treatment of both. She understands that the
t-shirts are considered — and frankly are — anti-gay.
At the same time, can the same people argue that the demonostration
the day before isn't pro-gay?
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COMMENTARY
Use
the First Amendment - But Not in Public (Columbia
City Paper 04-18-07) Lady Liberty says:
She's utterly disgusted by those who make the argument that the
public airwaves are inappropriate for free speech. She agrees that
some venues are, and that others may be, limited; but she'd contend
that one of those places is most assuredly not a talk show,
and most especially not a talk show created almost purely to create
controversy. What happened to Don Imus is still wrong.
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Hate
Crimes Law Could Muzzle Free Speech, Critics Fear (Cybercast
News Service 04-18-07) Lady Liberty says:
This is an appallingly broad and coercive measure which she opposes
across the board. Crimes against the rights of others should be
dealt with, of course, but nobody has any business whatsoever trying
to define mere offense as a criminal act. If this law passes, we'll
all pay for it...
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Muslim
cabbies face license loss for refusing fares with alcohol (The
Washington Times 04-18-07) Lady Liberty
says: There are doubtless those who will go crazy with accusations
of religious discrimination. And they're right. Those cab drivers
are discriminating against people who don't share their religion,
and it's reprehensible they'd deny services accordingly. If they
don't want to do the job, they don't have to. But if they want to
do they job, then they've got to do the job!
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Ban
on monthly Net access taxes faces obstacles (CNETNews.com
04-17-07) Lady Liberty says: She's
disgusted, of course, by the inclination of the government to steal
money from us at virtually every turn. But she's especially concerned
here with how added taxes could affect the communications breakthrough
that is the Internet. She believes the entire notion is summed up
nicely by the quote at the end of the article: The power to tax
something is the power to destroy it.
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University
convocation told of Allah, not Jesus Speakers also invoke Buddha,
Dalai Lama (WorldNetDaily.com
04-17-07) Lady Liberty says: As she
sees it, a variety of religious persons spoke pretty much as they
wished. If the several Christians who spoke omitted the word "Jesus"
in their exhortations, that was their call, and certainly not some
mysterious force that prohibited them from doing so. Apparently,
while Christian-bashing has become unfortunately fashionable, the
second-most fashionable thing today is whining about non-existant
Christian-bashing.
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'Jail
grandma' hate speech debate begins Warnings issued over 'most
dangerous bill in America' (WorldNetDaily.com
04-17-07) Lady Liberty says: She's
hard pressed to argue the synopsis of this measure as the "most
dangerous bill in America," at least as far as where freedom
of speech and religion are concerned. This is a clear attempt to
muzzle and homogenize thought, and she opposes it as the grievious
infringement that it is.
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Not
guilty plea in alleged hateful fruit tossing (The
Daily Journal 04-17-07) Lady Liberty says:
She thinks that what this young woman did is terrible. But she also
thinks that being an irrational bigot isn't necessarily a crime.
Prosecute her for the assault by all means, but tacking on punishment
for her attitude and her words only means that other victims are
less important. Even worse, it means our very opinions are subject
to monitoring by the authorities.
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'Blade'
Probe Finds Photog Altered 79 Pictures (Editor
& Publisher 04-15-07) Lady Liberty
says: Photographic alteration isn't the issue here. She does
quite a bit of it herself. The issue is presenting altered photos
with an implication that they accurately represent the scene. There's
no place for altered photos in ethical news reporting, and she doesn't
blame the paper for taking action. That being said, it does make
her wonder how many of the photos we daily rely on to convey one
fact or another have also been modified in some way.
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Creation
Museum's 1st visitor? Bill Maher Comedian sneaks peek at new
$30 million tribute to biblical view (WorldNetDaily.com
04-16-07) Lady Liberty says: She agrees
that people have the freedom to express whatever like as well as
the freedom to believe whatever they like. But presenting what is
demonstrably untrue as a fact to those who might be vulnerable to
such an "education" is a grievous disservice to us all
at best.
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