The American Spectator

Reader Mail

McCain Migraine

1.16.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 2 of 5)

Was the placement of an article on the Islamists' suppression of free speech and Senator McCain's suppression of political speech deliberate? If so, bravo!

Those who seek to use the force of law to prevent their opposition from expressing itself, whether it is through the suppression of critical campaign ads or articles that document ties between "non-violent" and violent jihadis, do not do so out of the courage of their own convictions, but out of the fear that their weaknesses will be exposed. In an age where information can be disseminated at viral speeds on the Internet, the attempt to censor dissent is as futile as King Canute's commands to the tides, but in the short term, it's a good identifier of those who want to rule, but cannot lead, and fear those who can.
-- Mike Harris
MAJ, USA

Brooke Goldstein writes that Islamic jihadists have been successfully using the legal systems of the free world to silence or intimidate those who criticize terrorism or terrorists (or, if you prefer, Islam).

Terrorists should not be protected under any law. There ought to be a bounty on them -- with no limits.

Mark (Live Free or Die) Steyn is on the front line against terrorism. Every American, everyone in the Western World, should support Steyn and those who stand with him against the jihadists...
-- Jack Hughes
Chicago, Illinois

This is an egregious affront to our constitution, in my view. It is a looming problem that need not exist in this country, or what used to be this country. I would certainly agree that the courts ought to simply refer to the 1st Amendment and throw all these cases out with prejudice.

I have, however, a small question. How is this any different, with the exception of the monetary judgements rendered, than the politically correct speech police within our society that have taken whole categories of discussion out of the public discourse. White folks who are NOT complete PC liberals are virtually banned from discussing anything to do with the black or Hispanic population. Men are essentially banned from discussing a whole range of topics to do with women, including such poisonous phrases as, "My don't you look nice today." Politicians are prohibited from criticizing the views and positions of their opponents without being told that they are "going negative."

When I was a youngster, back in the dark ages, we used to say, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Now it would seem that the operative phrase in society may be, "Sticks and stones are OK, but you better not say anything that offends me." I have never seen so many folks that spend their entire days going around looking for something or someone that offends them. It dang sure ain't the American that I learned to love anymore. Frankly, I have a whole list of categories of folks that I go out of my way to offend, like environmental wackos and tree huggers, and animal rights wackos and PITA, and homosexual rights militants, and Code Pink traitors, and more. A few years ago, I almost bought a Hummer just because it would upset the enviros every time I drove it down the street.

Well, I shall keep cheering for Mark Steyn and all in his predicament. May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the armpits of all CAIR members AND their wives. Now does the American Spectator have the cajones to print that insult?
-- Ken Shreve

Brooke M. Goldstein probably thinks she wrote a column about Islamist threats against free speech. What she really wrote about is the disgraceful evolution of jurisprudence in which unconscionably excessive legal fees have made the pursuit of justice impossible for far too many.

Despite all her ostensible high-mindedness, the bet here is that she, like so many others in her profession, is solidly against a "loser pays -- including court costs" system of litigation. And maybe she and her colleagues can explain why they think they're entitled to $500-plus an hour -- other than the fact that lawyers write most of the laws.

Is there any other occupation that can create its "raw material" out of thin air?
-- Arnold Ahlert
Boca Raton, Florida

To Khalid bin Mahfouz, CAIR, and all the many other Islamic groups who wish to silence us. You may take our books off the shelves, you may bankrupt us, you may take our homes, your religion may murder us in cold blood, but there is one thing you will never ever be able to take away from us.

You will never silence us or take our freedom. Tyrants through the millennium have tried over and over, but freedom still lives and flourishes, as the tyrants turn into dust and fade into the dust bin of those who have tried and failed to silence the freedom loving peoples of the world.
-- Melvin Leppla
Jacksonville, North Carolina

I am waiting for someone to bring a legal sledgehammer down upon the thick, degenerate skulls of the Islamists so as to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Letter to the Editor

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