I keep hearing negativism on defunding NPR. We were once able to send a man to the moon, but apparently stopping government funding for fringe left-wing speech is way too hard. It does seem like a good test for the new Congress; if they can’t make one cut on something everyone agrees is idiotic, what are they going to be able to do? And don’t let the leftists hide behind Elmo; if what it takes to get the government solvent is to stand before schoolchildren and strangle Elmo, then I’ll do it. People have a right to free speech, but they should also have a right not to be forced to fund speech they disagree with.
While we’re working on the idiocy of government funded speech, let’s not forget the other idiocy the Juan Williams incident exposed. Some liberals seem to get freedom of speech only half-right: They like being able to say whatever they want, but they despise other people being able to voice their opinions. If you want to see where that attitude leads, look at people being charged with “hate speech” in European countries. Liberals like to control people and worry that impolite speech will lead to violence, but they get things backwards because it’s people feeling voiceless that leads them to take harsh action. We need to keep having these impolite discussion in our country because they are our strength. Right now, people are trying to make Islam a protected thing and clamp down on anyone who dare question it, but if Muslims are going to fully integrate in this country then their religion needs to be as open to attack Christianity is. Our idea of free speech in this country is still, unfortunately, a unique thing, and we have to keep fighting for it.
And not putting government money towards those who despise it.
Good observation. I wrote a letter to the editor once that could have been subtitled, “In Praise of Bickering”. Often, what people deride as bickering is really speech that (a) they aren’t interested in, and/or (b) speech they don’t want to hear. But just because the indifferent and the partisan don’t feel like listening to it, why should that matter? If living in a free country means that you don’t get to shut up your opponents through coercion, then ain’t that just too damn bad?
(This is also a good occasion to trot out one of Frank J.’s classic observations–I wrote this one down, it was so good: “Really, is our freedom of speech limited by what can scare sissies?” Suckup Mode := Off)
Tensions always exist in society, and political speech and action are a way to handle those tensions and keep the society from becoming a pressure cooker. People keep wanting to slam the lid on the kettle with their “solutions” and then act all surprised when the temperature goes up. Morons.
Freedom of speach means the gummint does not prohibit what you say, or block any venue you can find to mouth off. It doesn’t mean the rest of us have to listen or pay for it. Now if Frank could find a way to take over NPR….
So, some folks have finally figured out that state-sponsored television and radio are a socialist idea, created to promote political propaganda? Umm…wow.
Well, and Elmo is a s***, too. I’d strangle him without the motivation of detaching NPR from the public tit. Have you ever watched Elmo? Or Sesame Street in general? It’s not the value-neutral, pure instruction, cute muppets thing you dimly remember from your youth.
Right after we defund NPR, lead by the ever so brave Republicans – slap – oh yea I just woke up…since we can’t defund NPR since the Republicans don’t have any stones, I say it’s time for some Mooslim punchin in the name of free speech! I can’t help it if they want to freely express themselves by slamming their nads and face into my fist. Who am I to take away that right?
I think this whole situation with Islam is like “Battered Woman Syndrome”. There are guys out there who think it’s a good idea to beat their wives in order to keep them servile and submissive, and they’re right…up until the point she grabs a shotgun and blows his head off. Likewise, the Islamofascists and their useless idiots in the media think they can keep the American people servile and submissive by beating us over the head with cries of “islamophobia” and hate speech laws. If the simile fits, it won’t end well.
Got a movie title for you, ussjimmycarter:
“Minneapelosi: Scissor Face” starring your favorite gal, Nancy.
“Government money” is an interesting term.
Most elementary school kids would cheer if you strangled Elmo. They hate Elmo almost as much as they hate Barney. The preschool kids are the ones who would cry “Noooo, not Elmo! OK, defund NPR, I don’t care, just leave Elmo alone!” Well actually it would come out more like “Waaaah! No hurt Eh-mo!” but you get the picture.
I’m sure some company would be willing to pay good money for Elmo and co, given that he’s a huge vehicle for toy sales.
The left already spent their $1 on Newsweek, and Obama has decided that foreign money is the new terrorism, so I guess only Fox can buy it. Maybe Katy Perry will get invited back after all.
” To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. ”
-Tomas Jefferson
Frank, once again you are onto something. We could welcome Muslims to American by putting a Koran in a jar of urine and then putting it into a federally funded museum. I jest in that I would never advocate such a thing for something from any religion, but how would the ACLU crowd react? A defense of free speech? Not likely.
Wacky Hermit, how exactly do you tell the difference between preschool kids and adult liberals?
Come on now, Frank. Strangling Elmo won’t make the governmnet solvent; strangling a whole lot of democrats (and some Republicans) on the other hand, might just do the trick.
Burmashave, the difference between preschool kids and adult liberals is that the adult liberals are a little larger in stature and smell like burnt rope. Although their mental capacity is about the same, with a slight edge going to the preschooler, because they haven’t gone through the years of brainwashing (aka: public education) of their adult counterparts.
In other words, Duke of Earl, there’s hope for preschoolers?