Freedom of the Press vs. Reality

Many of us wonder how the paparazzi can get away with literally chasing down celebrities and printing half-truths or even 1/4 truths. They, of course, all claim "Freedom of the press." This is under the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

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.

No where in this does it say "separation of church and state," nor does it say "go ahead and print whatever you want!"

When the Founding Fathers drew up this "living document," they had come from England. Who controlled England? The Catholic Church. Or the Anglican Church, depending. It was against the law (and punishable by death) to worship any other God than the God of the King or Queen. The colonists wanted to escape this crap and establish a country that did not dictate morality to its people.

At that time, if someone spoke out against the Church or against the ruler, they were jailed and often killed. They were forced to print only "good" news about the leaders. Again, the colonists wanted people to feel they could voice their opinions without threat of, ya know, death. They wanted to make this country a "Democracy within a Republic." They wanted to establish guidelines by which everyone could live and exercise their rights.

With the exercising of those rights comes... RESPONSIBILITY. Go figure.

This brilliant newspaper owner demonstrates this point for me. Go ahead and watch the video. I'll wait.

Keep watching.

Should be done now.

Did you notice what I did?

The "protesters" all seemed to be of the same race. The ones who "didn't think it was a big deal" also seemed to be of the same race. These two races have been in conflict in the US for...oh, a few centuries. Yes! You're brilliant. You can see that our newly-elected President is a black man. Congratulations, you can see.

But you so critically fail since it's evident you are not color-blind. If the Constitution is the "living document" you want me to believe it is, then you better start bendin' the other words to fit what's actual, mate. Don't claim one amendment and disregard another one.

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen Years a resident within the United States.

Did you catch all that? Re-read it if you have to. The rules for a Presidential candidate are they must be 35, lived in the US for 14 years, and be a natural-born citizen.

There's no gender factor.

There's no race factor.

So you know what, folks? Our President is a black man.

GET THE HECK OVER IT!

When we stop seeing our President as a black man and start seeing him as an individual capable of leading our country, then our country will have grown up. I'm so sick of these states who voted for McCain complaining that a black man's in charge. GROW UP! Y'all are driving me crazy with your crap. Skin color does not dictate intelligence. Circumstances do not dictate intelligence. Oh, yeah. You heard me. Just because you grew up in Harlem doesn't mean you get the right to tell me that I'm racist because I tell you you're stupid and can't form a coherent sentence.

Frederick Douglass is one of my favorite historic people. Know why? Because he educated himself and went on to help get that 13th Amendment signed--and the 14th...and the 15th... Frederick Douglass was a great orator. He ranks right up there with William Jennings Bryan. Don't tell me you didn't have a way to get a better paying job and had to steal and join a gang to get by. That's a choice. That's also a cop-out. Even James Earl Jones will tell you that.

Give it up, people. If I have to spend the next four years telling you all that you're racist idiots...so help me, this blog is going to sky-rocket in views.

>_>

<_<

On second thought...carry on. I could use the page hits.

What We Need More Of Is....

Science!

Apparently.

Because, ya know, it took SCIENTISTS to tell us that the American Government could be infringing on our rights as American citizens.

HELLO!?!

They could have saved themselves a lot of money and just read my blog. I mean, yes, I've been lax in updating this little diamond mine on a daily basis, but... I just gave you seven links to articles on the government, the TSA, and/or the violation of rights.

It seems I pay more attention to America and the rights and freedoms granted to me by the Constitution (you know, that document that's twisted for the purposes of the lawmakers?) because I was born here than the politicians do. I shouldn't really have a heart attack and die of NOT SUPRISED, but...I am...

Suprised, that is.

So... the scientists are saying that profiling people at the air port based on their behaviour could prove inaccurate. Um... DUH!? How many people are chipper when they're flying? I mean in post-9/11 times? You have to get up at the BUTT-CRACK of dawn for a 4pm flight so that you are at least three hours early for your flight so you can spend two of those hours in line for someone to illegally search you.

There is no warrant.

There is no probable cause.

The airlines don't have a choice in this matter.

And... if you happen to know someone who uses three buckets of phlegm to say his name, you're most likely on the no-fly list. Or if you've ever complained in public about the TSA. Or mentioned that they're morons. Or refused to follow their procedures because their existence violates your rights as an American citizen.

There's only so many times I can beat this dead horse.

Seriously...

I'm done.

Hello, Mr. McCarthy

Ah, yes, free speech. Something every American is guaranteed in the US Constitution under Amendment 1 of the Bill of Rights...quoted, here, for your convenience:

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.

Of course, allow me to go on a tangent for a moment regarding this erroneous idea of the "separation of church and state." As you can clearly read in the document, that phrase does not exist. Please stop claiming it. I'm referencing this story and the people who say "religion doesn't belong in a public school." Bullpucky. Are you afraid the kids may actually stop carrying guns and grow a sense of morality? On top of that, it's an elective so they don't have to take it if they don't want to. Maybe if you'd paid attention in your government class, you'd know the Constitution a little bit better. All that amendment means is that there's not an established National religion--like Church of England. Or Catholicism. Or Muslim. Or Taoism. Hindu. Whatever. "I'll take 'A Clue' for $1000, Alex."

Moving on.

It seems our right to speak freely is constantly being abridged. "How, Rogue Assassin?" I hear you ask. In this news video from CNN, a young woman was asked to leave the SSA building in Van Nuys, CA (sadly, yes, this was in California), because her t-shirt was offensive.

If you didn't watch the video, it's a white t-shirt with small, black letters that read: "lesbian.com." That's right. That's all. It didn't swear at you, tell you that you smell like poo, have Calvin peeing on a religious symbol, or even have some derogatory message written on it. It just gave a website that happens to be for the gay/lesbian movement. Somehow, the security guard found this to be offensive.

She was told to leave or she'd go to jail.

"Pat, I'd like to buy a clue, please?"

Since when has what I have written on my t-shirt--my own personal property and testament to my existence--land me in jail? That, right there, violates my right to speak my mind. If I choose to wear something that calls black people "niggers," well, that's on me. Offensive or not, that may just be my opinion. If I choose to wear a t-shirt with a guy, a girl, a dog, a sheep, and an oven on it and the phrase, "F**K ALL!" that's my right. The pledge doesn't just say, "...with justice for all." It's "...with liberty and justice for all." Hmmm...that phrase sounds familiar....

Okay, so she wasn't escorted to prison and the security guard is facing some sort of punishment. But, how much do you want to bet her name ends up on this mysterious Terror-Watch List? That list that grounds you from flying. That list you don't know that you're on until you've purchased plane tickets and try to check in. That list you have to fill out an application, wait for them to "get around to" reviewing it, then decide if you should or shouldn't be on the list after they talk to you--and never tell you the results. Yeah. That terror-watch list...

The one that Drew Griffin found his name on. Coincidentally, it was -after- he ran an article on the Federal Air Marshal's program. Refusing to show ID (though not legally required) could also land you on that no-fly list. Why? Because you're calling your own rights into the situation. Is it really constitutional for the Department of Homeland security to--without probable cause or warrant--search your person and belongings? Nope. See, that's in Amendment 4 of the Bill of Rights. In fact, I wrote about that one already.

What it's boiling down to, is McCarthyism all over again. Huh. That's funny. "McCarthyism" is an actual word. Didn't come up on my spell-check as not existing. Don't know what it is? Look it up! How is this a return to that era? Because in order to get off that no-fly list, you have to convince the Department of Justice--or Homeland Security--that you are, in fact, not a terrorist. They have to agree with you. Hello? Anyone paying attention here? That list grows by 20,000 names per month. Really. Are there that many known terrorists? Here, I thought they were all Al Quida and pretty noticeable. Like Ron White says, "If I'm fixin' to get on a plane, and the guy ahead of me needs two loads of phlegm just to say his name, I'm checking his shoes for fuses. That's ain't racism...that's profilin'!"

When they outlaw speaking out, only those speaking out will be outlaws. Which is pretty much anyone who has a brain and chooses to use it.