Anyone Notice How The Chill On Free Speech Is Beginning To Wear Off???

[Blackhatjack]

Amazing how many people have just clammed up over the last 6 years, afraid to speak freely about what they really think. Afraid to criticize the war, the President, the military decisions, the obvious fraud and waste in supporting this war, and anything else that could put them on the wrong side of the President's "you are either with us or against us' ultimatum.

Now we have celebrities, retired generals, politicians, reporters, political pundits, protesters, people on the street, etc all beginning to "find their voice' again. Speaking out in opposition to the war and this President, the infringements upon and dismantling of our Constitutional rights, and standing up to be counted as against immoral practics of torture, secret prisons, etc.

There have been a few that were never silenced, but garnered little attention and the opportunity to make their case in the MSM.

Just a feeling, but it is like a veil is being lifted, and people are beginning to act like participants in a demcracy again. I think with the coming Congressional investigations, there may be a resurgence of people seeking both the truth and their freedoms back --and a concerted effort to hold their leaders accountable.

Does anyone else see things this way?

[Donnachaidh]

1. it started the day after the election

And we have to keep the heat on to thaw out the rest of the people who are afraid to speak their minds.

[Annces]

2. Yes - It seems like the White House has broken ranks

and are not acting in a unified manner, and there is more of a free-for-all with different people and the press feeling easier. Things have loosened up. I can watch the news now, and think things are going to change.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Except that if you speak out you run the risk of being called "loopy"

or "tipsy". DiVito is the first guy to honestly laugh at bush on broadcast TV. They can't handle it, so instead, he's "loopy". Fuck them.

[IntravenousDemilo]

4. He laughed at Bush? How wonderful! When did that happen? And which DiVito are you talking about? n/m

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. Danny DeVito

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46wakJ8oggM

[Forrest Greene]

5. In Other Countries

...you run the risk of being murdered & your body dumped somewhere they'll never find it. We're pretty darn soft & pink here.

[Blackhatjack]

9. I hope you do not equate "soft & pink" with the constitutional right of 'free speech"

Are any of those other countries real democracies, or in name only?

[Codeblue]

15. How about this country?

I'd say this isn't really a true democracy. In my Poli Sci class we were talking recently about the functional definition of democracy and the substantive definition. The functional definition relates to what we actually see in "democracies" around the world. The substantive definition relates to what democracy really is. Political scientists consider most of the countries who claim to be democracies "democracies" because no country lives up to the substantive definition or "real" definition of democracy.

[Blackhatjack]

17. There are no 'pure' democracies in this world....

.... just like we all fall short of being without fault.

However, one of the basic tenets of any kind of participatory democracy is 'free speech.' Without it there is no way for the governed to maked informed decisions.

[Codeblue]

19. My point to your question above

You asked if any of those "other countries were real democracies" and I responded that there are no "real" democracies. All of them are in name only.

[jgraz]

6. Well, the dude was drunk off his ass

Absolutely fucking spot on in what he said, but still totally shitfaced.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. He didn't look drunk at all. He made perfect sense.

[jgraz]

11. Nope, he was blotto. He even admitted it on-air

[tridim]

7. I don't think the swift boating of DiVito worked at all..

It's so obvious that Bush has jumped the shark, and DiVito was just laughing at Bush like most Americans do every day.

[applegrove]

12. It is such a relief. People whose jobs it is to inform... they now do their jobs.

[BuyingThyme]

13. I hope you're right.

[Uncle Joe]

14. Yes and while all this is happening,

Gingrich comes out to trash the first amendment, makes you want to go hmmm.

Thanks for posting Blackhatjack

Kicked and recommended

[Blackhatjack]

18. Yep, Gingrich is trying to marginalize the constitutional right of 'free speech'

The Soviet Union remained intact as long as they were able to control information received by the governed.

Give up 'free speech' and most of your other constitutional rights are infringed as well.

[Lasthorseman]

16. I heard

that they can classify the PETA people as "terrorists" now.

First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I said nothing.......