Posted on 03/21/2002 8:05:36 PM PST by Hail Caesar
P.J. Hogan's Heroes
Graphic credit: Maryland Tyranny Response Team
Flier raises questions of `hate speech'
By WHITNEY L. JACKSON
Journal staff writer
Steps are being taken to remove a Bethesda man from a county committee on hate and violence after he ruffled political feathers on both sides of the aisle with a flier depicting three Montgomery legislators who support gun control as Nazis.
Gus Alzona, an elected member of the county Republican Central Committee and a gun-rights advocate, could lose his spot as treasurer of the county's Committee on Hate/Violence if the County Council agrees with County Executive Douglas M. Duncan's decision to remove him.
Alzona distributed a flier Friday in Annapolis showing the faces of state Sens. Brian Frosh, D-Bethesda, and Christopher Van Hollen Jr., D-Kensington, and Del. Mark Shriver, D-Bethesda, digitally imposed on soldiers in German SS-style uniforms.
The flier, which read ``Montgomery County Democrats have a FINAL solution for ALL of Maryland's gun owners," was drafted by the county chapter of the pro-gun Tyranny Response Team.
However, Duncan, D, said Alzona's actions were inappropriate for anyone serving in a county position.
``There is no place in this community for acts of intolerance," Duncan said in a statement. ``I feel very strongly that members of the Committee on Hate/Violence should be held to the highest standard in this regard."
But Alzona said he hadn't expected Duncan to remove him from the commission.
``It's a big surprise," he said. ``As a member of the commission, I know what hate speech is, and what I did doesn't amount to hate speech."
Alzona said the flier was intended to show his opposition to the representatives' calls for stringent gun-control measures, including fingerprinting and photographing those who buy guns and registering all gun license numbers.
He said he hoped to protest what he felt were extreme measures to regulate gun owners.
``This is not about the Holocaust," Alzona said.
Ronald Halber, executive director for the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington, said Alzona's flier was a disgusting symbol of Nazism.
``What he did is an affront," he said. ``He took the biggest evil mankind has developed and used it in a carefree manner in a public policy debate."
Halber called for Alzona's resignation from the Republican Central Committee - and other elected officials, including many Republicans, have seconded his request.
In a statement, Allen Prettyman, chairman of the central committee, asked Alzona to step down.
State Sen. Jean Roesser, R-Potomac; Montgomery County Council member Howard A. Denis, R-Bethesda-Chevy Chase; and U.S. Rep. Connie Morella, R-8th District, also have said Alzona should relinquish his seat on the central committee.
Shriver called Alzona's actions unbelievable and praised Duncan for starting the process to relieve him of his position.
``[Alzona] has a lack of sensitivity to anti-Semitic and disrespectful gestures. What he did was outrageous," he said. ``I commend the county executive for making the move."
Despite the political pressure, Alzona said he has no intention of resigning his elected position. As an Asian-Pacific American, he said he is a rarity in the Republican Party.
``I will certainly not resign over this," he said. ``I continue to represent the social conservative constituency in the party."
Although the flier generated negative feedback, Alzona said he has received support from committee members, as well as from other gun-rights advocates in the county.
Horowitz is called a Nazi by "liberals" in enlightened cities like AA all the time. I can't remember a lib activist ever confronting conservatives without yelling fascist.
Two points: First, communism is arguably a greater evil mankind produced. Second, if someone is using something in a carefree manner, I would say it is this man's sensitivity to use of symbols. lots of folks have compared people they dont like to Nazis. Especially Liberals who call conservative nazis, often and with vigor ... FOLKS LET'S COLLECT A LIST AND REMIND THIS GUY ...
Here is at least one Liberal Congressman calling Ken Starr a Nazi ... http://www.mediaresearch.org/news/cyberalert/1998/cyb19980429.html#2
``What he did is an affront," he said. ``He took the biggest evil mankind has developed and used it in a carefree manner in a public policy debate."
Y'mean, if some politician acts like a Nazi, you're a Nazi when you call him a Nazi? Ergo, Nazi or not, we're all Nazis (or at least an an "affront" to the sensibilities of some possibly jewish guy) if we think there exist the Nazi-like in the present day.
What a bonehead.
Remember these guys? Why didn't we think of this? Got their attention, didn't it?
The Constitution says nothing about "hate" speech, just that you may speak freely.
Why do we give this false idea any credence?
It is being used to destroy our nation and our Constitutionaly guaranteed rights.
Resist it completely.
All but those hats. I never even liked my USAF "Wheel hat", even though it was somewhat less peaked in the front than the Nazi version. Always wished I could have taken out the stiffener and given it a "fifty mission crush" appearance. Instead I, like most others, just wore my C**t Cap, much more practical and it looked better too, at least on my fat head.
(FYI. I am Jewish and a member of JPFO.)
Double standards are never honorable. This one is no exception.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.