Posted on 07/09/2009 8:12:47 PM PDT by Maelstorm
Ever-vigilant for opportunities to quash anything contrary to the liberal worldview, Leftists in Congress are working on new ways to silence any dissent.
Most of us know about the “Fairness Doctrine” that they got away with for years to harass and control the opposition. Most of us also know the liberals have been trying for years to bring it back.
Their latest attempt is HR 1966, ostensibly to fight “cyber bullying,” but it could very easily be used to prosecute “hate crimes,” or essentially any electronic communication that hurt someone’s feelings.
David Rittgers of the Cato Institute discusses this Orwellian measure on Fox News in the video below.
This paragraph within the bill gives you an idea of the ominous scope:
“Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce [radio, TV internet] any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.” – HR 1966 Sec 3, Sec 881A
It is also said to violate “double jeopardy” Constitutional protections, in that if you are tried and convicted, but the federal government believes you weren’t punished severely enough, they can retry you to seek a harsher sentence.
It is no stretch whatsoever to see homosexual activists use this against someone like myself or broadcasters at Focus on the Family any time we tell the truth about the moral and health dangers of homosexual behavior.
Here are just a few items from an article I wrote a couple of days ago on how “hate crime” legislation is already being used against people for exercising their opinion, free speech, and freedom of association, both internationally and already here in the United States:
* Last year a Catholic priest in Canada, Fr. Alphonse de Valk, who was investigated by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) for the “crime” of teaching what the Bible says about homosexual behavior (that it is a sin) and marriage (that it is between a man and a woman). * The Ontario Human Rights Commission slapped Protestant printer Scott Brockie with a $5000 fine for refusing to print homosexual-themed stationary. * The Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal fined Hugh Owens several thousand dollars for quoting the Bible in a letter to the local newspaper. * Mayor Diane Haskett in London, Ontario, was fined $10,000 for refusing to proclaim a gay pride day. * Swedish Pastor Ake Green in 2004 was sentenced to 30 days in jail for preaching a sermon in which he defined homosexual behavior as sinful and harmful to society. * A British couple were questioned by police on possible “hate crime” charges after they wrote a letter-to-the-editor of their local newspaper criticizing city officials for distributing brochures at city hall promoting homosexual behavior. * In Canada, Focus on the Family must cut out any portions of their broadcasts dealing with homosexuality for radio stations in that country. * Last year the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal ruled that youth pastor Stephen Boissoin was guilty of writing a letter to the editor of the Red Deer Advocate which might expose homosexuals to hate and contempt (Boissoin’s 2002 letter said homosexuality was immoral, physically dangerous and should not be promoted in schools). * Not content with their success in quashing open refusals to bow at the altar of political correctness, the Canadian pro-homosexual group EGALE (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere) is calling for the Canadian postal system to censor the mail for “hate mail” * Catholic Charities in Boston was forced out of the adoption ministry because they refused to put children in homes of homosexual couples. * Boston school teachers have been threatened with termination if they fail to cast homosexuality in a positive light to students. * The University of Toledo fired a black administrator for writing a “letter to the editor” of a local newspaper about the inconsistency of comparing homosexuality to ethnicity. * Christians in Philadelphia were arrested for reading Bible verses and praying out loud during a homosexual festival. * The state of New Mexico issued a fine of $6,600 to a Christian photographer (a private businessman) who didn’t want to photograph two lesbians make a commitment to each other. * A Colorado law passed last year to allow men to use women’s restrooms and shower rooms if they “felt like a woman” also contained provisions which prohibits the publication for public consumption any material which is “discriminatory” against homosexual behavior. So while churches can (for now) continue teaching within their own walls what the Bible says about homosexual behavior, they cannot publish anything in public which does. This includes any Christian book publishers or other ministries in Colorado.
We all understand the need to criminally punish assaults on persons and property. We also understand the need to restrict direct threats of violence against persons and property.
1984BookBut this measure and others like it seek to punish thoughts and opinions. Even without a threat of violence against persons or property, this type of regulation can be used to brand you a criminal and punish you for expressing a value statement about a particular issue or behavior.
This bill is a direct assault on the First Amendment:
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.
This is what we get when we put Leftists in power in our government. Leftists have no interest in fairness or in the freedoms of the “little people.” It is all about the consolidation of power and exercising any government control over the individual–including speech, thoughts and opinions–they consider contrary to their socialist ideology.
Remember this, and remember that the next time you vote.
David Rittgers discusses Criminalizing Free Speech on FOX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42x9_aFQ-5E
Creepy, creepy stuff.
and we will blog and hold rallies and protest and wait.... some leftist is now saying that free speech is not for people but for collectives?? what??
The thought police are at it again.
And people always thought conservatives are the thought police.
Wrong.
Liberals have them beat them by a mile.
Not even close.
This sounds like the same organization that indicted Mark Steyn in Canada. The indictment failed but only because a wise person (not a Latina) videotaped a hearing in progress. Perhaps that could be shown here in the U.S. in paid advertising segments.
Yesterday I alerted a local conservative radio talk show host and his listeners to this bill. Please spread the word!
These Democruds are just disgusting. Can we just arrest them and send them to North Korea? I am sick of them turning this country into a s**thouse!
I hate this Congress.
I’ll second that. Don’t despair we will stop them and we will stop our own turn coats.
**The thought police are at it again.**
I was thinking about changing my tag line, but everytime something like this appears, it makes me Leave it a bit Longer!!
Thanks for that. I’m not going to despair. I place my trust in God, not government.
In the comic strip SHOE, Skyler ( the eaglet ) responded to the question, why did he hate school: “I wouldn’t say that I HATE school ... Let’s just say that I dislike it with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns.”
LOL. I rarely use the term “hate”, but since this article is about a hate crimes bill, I thought I should boldly use up the last bit of my yet remaining free speech while I can still do so without being forced into the gulags.
Tell that to as many people as possible that conservatives are the guardians of thought liberty.
It’s the liberals that are in bed with George Orwell’s brain.
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