It's that time again!!!!! For the eighteenth year, The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Expression of Free Speech has announced its 2009 Muzzle Awards to those who have grievously ignored Thomas Jefferson's statement that freedom of speech "cannot be limited without being lost."
I look forward to these awards each year and appreciate that these fine folks are paying attention to protecting this precious right. As bloggers, we should all rejoice in their commitment as we could all be in huge trouble without the First Amendment. And whether you agree with their choices or not, it really all about freedom of speech and choice as our Founding Fathers wished and that's a good thing.
This year's list runs the gamut from horrifying to plain damned silly and includes a somewhat motley crew. Some are no big surprise like the two major political parties whose members consistently ignore the Constitution and the First Amendment with monotonous regularity. Others amaze me like the judges who I thought -- silly me -- were supposed to know the Bill of Rights and that scares the hell out of me as the school systems accorded this dubious honor and over-populated the list. I'm only going write about the #1 winners (i.e., the ones who annoyed me most) but here is the list of the offen . . . er . . . ah . . . honorees for 2009:
1. The Democratic and Republican National Parties
2. Command Authority of Camp Lejeune Marine Base (NC)
3. Berrien County (Michigan) Court Judge Dennis Wiley
4. Virginia Circuit Court Judge Westbrook J. Parker
5. The Administrations of Lone Star College and Tarrant County College (both in Texas).
5. The Administration of Cypress College (California)
6. The Administration of Yuba Community College Administration (California)
7. The Perry Township (Indiana) School Board
8. The Administration of the Academy for Arts, Science, & Technology (South Carolina
9. The Administrations of Millard South High School (Nebraska) and Aurora Frontier
K-8 (Colorado)
You can read about all of them here. If you're like me and treasure your freedom of speech, be sure to have a hankie or box of tissue (or whatever medications you require for stress) nearby.
As I said I'm only going to comment on the #1 "honorees" because there are so many among the rest that I want to rant about. I may write about some of the others later.
Thank you Democrats and Republicans for muzzling protesters at both conventions. You truly earned your #1 ranking. I hope you can share it as you re-think the First Amendment. I'm sending extra points to the RNC for not allowing Ron Paul or his delegates on the convention floor. I mean really -- Ron Paul, a multi-term Republican Congressman -- had over thirty delegates committed to him from the Republican primaries and was not allowed to attend the convention. Shame, shame, shame on both parties. Over 850 people were arrested at the Republican convention which included forty members of the press. At the DNC's party they were some horrific incidents, too, although no numbers were available. Words can't truly express how angry I am but I'm delighted the TJ Center calls attention to their transgressions.
Y'all can visit the TJ Center's link above and see what travesties were committed against the First Amendment. And be sure your blood pressure is under control.
Happy Blogging!!!!!!!
I look forward to these awards each year and appreciate that these fine folks are paying attention to protecting this precious right. As bloggers, we should all rejoice in their commitment as we could all be in huge trouble without the First Amendment. And whether you agree with their choices or not, it really all about freedom of speech and choice as our Founding Fathers wished and that's a good thing.
This year's list runs the gamut from horrifying to plain damned silly and includes a somewhat motley crew. Some are no big surprise like the two major political parties whose members consistently ignore the Constitution and the First Amendment with monotonous regularity. Others amaze me like the judges who I thought -- silly me -- were supposed to know the Bill of Rights and that scares the hell out of me as the school systems accorded this dubious honor and over-populated the list. I'm only going write about the #1 winners (i.e., the ones who annoyed me most) but here is the list of the offen . . . er . . . ah . . . honorees for 2009:
1. The Democratic and Republican National Parties
2. Command Authority of Camp Lejeune Marine Base (NC)
3. Berrien County (Michigan) Court Judge Dennis Wiley
4. Virginia Circuit Court Judge Westbrook J. Parker
5. The Administrations of Lone Star College and Tarrant County College (both in Texas).
5. The Administration of Cypress College (California)
6. The Administration of Yuba Community College Administration (California)
7. The Perry Township (Indiana) School Board
8. The Administration of the Academy for Arts, Science, & Technology (South Carolina
9. The Administrations of Millard South High School (Nebraska) and Aurora Frontier
K-8 (Colorado)
You can read about all of them here. If you're like me and treasure your freedom of speech, be sure to have a hankie or box of tissue (or whatever medications you require for stress) nearby.
As I said I'm only going to comment on the #1 "honorees" because there are so many among the rest that I want to rant about. I may write about some of the others later.
Thank you Democrats and Republicans for muzzling protesters at both conventions. You truly earned your #1 ranking. I hope you can share it as you re-think the First Amendment. I'm sending extra points to the RNC for not allowing Ron Paul or his delegates on the convention floor. I mean really -- Ron Paul, a multi-term Republican Congressman -- had over thirty delegates committed to him from the Republican primaries and was not allowed to attend the convention. Shame, shame, shame on both parties. Over 850 people were arrested at the Republican convention which included forty members of the press. At the DNC's party they were some horrific incidents, too, although no numbers were available. Words can't truly express how angry I am but I'm delighted the TJ Center calls attention to their transgressions.
Y'all can visit the TJ Center's link above and see what travesties were committed against the First Amendment. And be sure your blood pressure is under control.
Happy Blogging!!!!!!!
I just noticed your new photo, Kay! That's great!
ReplyDeleteI don't have time to read them now, but I'll be back soon. I wanted you to know that I use Avast, too, in fact I think you may have told me about it before. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt is always a good thing to lift the rock and expose the slugs that would deprive us all of the most important of freedoms in your country and in mine.
ReplyDeleteNice update to your photo,Kay
yeah, wonderful photo! we DO improve with age, y'know....
ReplyDeletekeep on keeping on....m.e.
I just noticed your new photo/hairdo/glasses too. I like them all. You look like a spring chicken.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everyone said something about your new photo because I was going to mention it too. Cool photo!
ReplyDeleteGood post, "they" really would like to keep us all silent but they can't :)
I will join the others in complimenting you on your new photo. I'm jealous; you look great in red and I can't wear it at all.
ReplyDeleteWe really have to be vigilant to keep our constitutionally guaranteed rights. I'm glad that some are paying attention, including you.