The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Politics & RKBA => Topic started by: ericire12 on October 21, 2009, 11:41:19 AM
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Ummmm.... tell me again how Dear Leader is NOT trying to destroy this country ???
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/10/column-just-say-no-to-blasphemy-laws-.html
Perhaps in an effort to rehabilitate the United States’ image in the Muslim world, the Obama administration has joined a U.N. effort to restrict religious speech. This country should never sacrifice freedom of expression on the altar of religion.
By Jonathan Turley
Around the world, free speech is being sacrificed on the altar of religion. Whether defined as hate speech, discrimination or simple blasphemy, governments are declaring unlimited free speech as the enemy of freedom of religion. This growing movement has reached the United Nations, where religiously conservative countries received a boost in their campaign to pass an international blasphemy law. It came from the most unlikely of places: the United States.
While attracting surprisingly little attention, the Obama administration supported the effort of largely Muslim nations in the U.N. Human Rights Council to recognize exceptions to free speech for any "negative racial and religious stereotyping." The exception was made as part of a resolution supporting free speech that passed this month, but it is the exception, not the rule that worries civil libertarians. Though the resolution was passed unanimously, European and developing countries made it clear that they remain at odds on the issue of protecting religions from criticism. It is viewed as a transparent bid to appeal to the "Muslim street" and our Arab allies, with the administration seeking greater coexistence through the curtailment of objectionable speech. Though it has no direct enforcement (and is weaker than earlier versions), it is still viewed as a victory for those who sought to juxtapose and balance the rights of speech and religion.
A 'misused' freedom?
In the resolution, the administration aligned itself with Egypt, which has long been criticized for prosecuting artists, activists and journalists for insulting Islam. For example, Egypt recently banned a journal that published respected poet Helmi Salem merely because one of his poems compared God to a villager who feeds ducks and milks cows. The Egyptian ambassador to the U.N., Hisham Badr, wasted no time in heralding the new consensus with the U.S. that "freedom of expression has been sometimes misused" and showing that the "true nature of this right" must yield government limitations.
His U.S. counterpart, Douglas Griffiths, heralded "this joint project with Egypt" and supported the resolution to achieve "tolerance and the dignity of all human beings." While not expressly endorsing blasphemy prosecutions, the administration departed from other Western allies in supporting efforts to balance free speech against the protecting of religious groups.
Thinly disguised blasphemy laws are often defended as necessary to protect the ideals of tolerance and pluralism. They ignore the fact that the laws achieve tolerance through the ultimate act of intolerance: criminalizing the ability of some individuals to denounce sacred or sensitive values. We do not need free speech to protect popular thoughts or popular people. It is designed to protect those who challenge the majority and its institutions. Criticism of religion is the very measure of the guarantee of free speech — the literal sacred institution of society.
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Gee, what a surprise. Obama, supporting sharia law! ::)
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Oil the guns and vacuum pack the ammo boys and girls!
The day is getting closer and closer.
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Oil the guns and vacuum pack the ammo boys and girls!
The day is getting closer and closer.
That statement will be used against you in a court of law someday ;D
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This is how our liberties and freedoms will all die - through international agreements.
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This is how our liberties and freedoms will all die - through international agreements.
Thats right, and Obama could give two shits about our sovereignty...... This is the perfect storm.
*We all are fully aware of the push for international gun control, right?
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That statement will be used against you in a court of law someday ;D
I would consider it an honor to be a co-defendant .
Obama is an anti American, anti Christian one world, elitist, puppet of George Soros and should be hanged.
His "Czars" should enjoy the same fate as their Romanov namesakes.
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If that is the best they can come up with they ain't worthy of coming after me >:(
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I would consider it an honor to be a co-defendant .
Obama is an anti American, anti Christian one world, elitist, puppet of George Soros and should be hanged.
His "Czars" should enjoy the same fate as their Romanov namesakes.
Just curious, has anyone priced rope lately?
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If rope is to expensive we can get a hammer at the dollar store, whack em hard and throw the body in a river. That way the ones who don't die from the hammer will drown, and the increase in food will help the fisheries recover.
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Gators! "Pork salad Annie, the gator got yer Grannie....." ;)
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The only reason you will ever hear me referring to the Dixie Chick is to suggest we rename a certain President EHO (Earl Husain Obama) ;)
We are soooooooo screwed :-\ Can you hear the black helicopters out there ???
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They need another stimulus package for that much black paint.
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They need another stimulus package for that much black paint.
Too late, they spent all that was left on red ink. >:( >:( >:(
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Polk salad ANNI
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If that is the best they can come up with they ain't worthy of coming after me >:(
I will consider it an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with you on that day, my friend.
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As long as we're in this deep ...
http://www.ng.mil/resources/photo_gallery/heritage/concord_bridge.html (http://www.ng.mil/resources/photo_gallery/heritage/concord_bridge.html)
Pick your spot at the birdge.
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As long as we're in this deep ...
http://www.ng.mil/resources/photo_gallery/heritage/concord_bridge.html (http://www.ng.mil/resources/photo_gallery/heritage/concord_bridge.html)
Pick your spot at the birdge.
Great find. Most people don't really realize that it was the farmers, and shop owners, the minute men, that fought the hardest in the war for our independence. People today are told it was the continental army, and the militia. But in those days, the militia was made of of men like you, and me. Average men, who took on the most powerful army in the world, and won. Never underestimate a man fighting for his freedom.
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As long as we're in this deep ...
http://www.ng.mil/resources/photo_gallery/heritage/concord_bridge.html (http://www.ng.mil/resources/photo_gallery/heritage/concord_bridge.html)
Pick your spot at the birdge.
The bridge that passes over 60 at the edge of your town? ;D
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The bridge that passes over 60 at the edge of your town? ;D
I'm thinking the North Star Bridge in Mankato. Actual river, and we can cut Walz (our rep. that is on a leave as a high school teacher in Mankato ... can anyone guess his leanings) off at the same time.