The 2011 Muzzle Awards

Between my surgery and my computer woes, I am woefully late with what is always one of my favorite posts each year: The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression's annual Muzzle Awards. Around April 13th to celebrate Jefferson's birthday, these awards are given to those persons and entities " who in the past year forgot or disregarded Mr. Jefferson’s admonition that freedom of speech ‘cannot be limited without being lost.’ Amen! The envelope, please! This year's 'honorees' are:

1.The Obama Administration and BP
2.The Transportation Security Administration
3.Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution G. Wayne Clough
4.The Virginia Department of Corrections
5.Mississippi State Court Judge Talmadge Littlejohn
6.Gail Sweet, Director of the Burlington County (New Jersey) Library System
7.The Administration of Albemarle High School (Virginia)
8.The Administration of Hamilton College (New York)

I'm not going to comment on all of them but I urge y'all to go here and check out their offenses against free speech. From President Obama to a Glen Beck supporter, violators of the First Amendment abound.

My personal favorite was #2 the young man who was flying from Richmomd, VA to Cincinnati, OH (not even an hour flight) about the time the TSA introduced the horrible new scanners and searches. This enterprising young fellow had written the 4th Amendment (illegal search and seizure) on his chest in protest and took of his shirt and sweats in protest. So what did the TSA do? They arrested him and tried to prosecute him for disorderly conduct. Fortunately, the prosecutor in that county is sane and dropped the charges which could have meant prison and a nasty fine.

The TJ Center does great work and I always enjoy them. Hope y'all do, too!

Happy Blogging!!!!

Kay

Keeping On Keeping On

I'm still fighting with this cold/whatever and am seriously tired of it. Assorted other nonsense adds to the 'fun' and do rain by the buckets pouring on -- I've had fun and, my friends, this ain't it so forgive me if I'm a bit snarky.

I get assistance with my utility bill because I'm low-income and I dutifully re-certified last month and had a long wait in line outside (which I think is the source of my current illness) and waited inside nearly all damned day last month to get things right -- or so I thought. Wrong!!!! AEP has everything all screwed up and wants me to pay nearly double the amount I'm supposed to pay and shows electricity as my primary heating source -- WRONG! I called Columbus to the Ohio office and they said to tell AEP to fix it so I did and they say our local office has to fix it. Right. I held strong and she finally told me that I needed to talk to the Public Utitlities Commission which almost sent me ballistic but, fortunately, I managed not to lose it. I called the PUCO and talked to a really nice, very helpful young lady named Maggie who checked out everything and said yes, my local agency messed up so I needed to call them which I just did and left a message for them to call. We shall see if they call back. If they don't, I just had a light bulb go off in my brain
and might have an end run through the red tape. Pray, light a candle, think good thoughts or whatever y'all do to get through hell. Thanks!!!!! In my next life I'm gonna be rich.

(Vent mode off)

* I got this marvelous history lesson from Russ up in Wisconsin and it's wonderful food for thought and if y'all forgot what was happening here before the American Revolution, it's a excellent reminder and germane to our country today. Here's an excellent short excerpt:

Incorporated companies with proper limitations and guards,
may in particular cases, be useful, but they are at best a necessary evil only. Monopolies and perpetuities are objects of just abhorrence. The former are unjust to the existing, the latter usurpations on the rights of future generations. It is not strange that the law which will not permit an individual to bequeath his property to the descendants of his own loins for more than a short and strictly defined term, should authorize an associated few to entail perpetual and indefeasible appropriations…? – James Madison, March 10, 1817

* If y'all like to bake for the holidays, you can have some awesome new cookie recipe delivered to your inbox here. I get these every every year and it's fun!!!

* This group's website is self-explanatory and doing good works that are working: Glen Beck kas no sponsors for his program in the UK due to their efforts. Imagine what would happen if we all told his sponsors that we would no longer buy their products/services as long as they funded Beck's lies. It works for me.

& I swiped this video (and added it to my YouTube Channel) from my friend Colleen whose quirky sense of humor meshes with mine!!!! Thanks, girlfriend!!!



* Any weekend the Buckeyes win a nail-biter and I get to hear/see wonderful music, it's a good thing! Too bad such euphoria gets dashed when one returns to the real world. Sigh. Hence the today's song screamed for a sappy oldie. Sigh. Tomorrow I hope to be back to my regular nutty, rockin' self.



Whew!!!! I started this post at 2 PM while I was in 'hold mode' and it's 10 pm now. Can y'all say distractions and interruptions? The worst part is that I don't have the problem resolved there goes my day tomorrow. Sigh.

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

The Jefferson Muzzle Awards 2009

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!!!!!!!

Afterthoughts on the Second Amendment

I really enjoyed the excellent thoughtful comments y'all made on yesterday's post. I found the articulate, thoughtful and very, very relevant. I also enjoyed that they weren't skewed with NRA rhetoric. (I think y'all know I have damn little patience with fanatics.) The key word for me in these comments was 'responsibility' and it gave me pause to think about it. Mary and Jams both mentioned it implicitly and it was implied by the rest of y'all. I don't know about y'all but "responsibility" was one of the first big words I learned as a kid and y'all probably did, too.

The intent of this amendment was that citizens be able to defend themselves against a tyrannical government as they themselves had had to do. A worthy goal for their era; a somewhat impractical one for ours.

Here's another quote on arms that left me with chills:

"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!" -- Adolf Hitler

What's the answer? I'm not certain but I think education is important and letting cooler heads on both sides of this issue prevail to find a middle ground that will quell the epidemic of violence in our society.

Thank you all again for your excellent input.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

The Founding Fathers on the The Right to Bear Arms

Here are some more words from the Founding Fathers on The Bill of Rights of our Constitution. Today the Second Amendment which has been derided and criticized greatly in modern society. I have mixed feelings about it. I don't think the Founding Fathers were thinking of AK-47s, Saturday Night Specials and bombs when this was written. They lived in a different world. I'm sure my ancestors, who helped settle Ohio, had weapons for hunting and to defend themselves in the French and Indian Wars as well as the Revolution although Ohio and western Pennsylvania didn't see much of the latter.

Many Americans feel that the Second Amendment should be repealed. As I said above, I have mixed feelings. However, if you are one of them or one of the fanatics who are rabidly in favor of it, please stop reading now because this post is not to open a forum for debate but to show the thoughts and intent of the Founding Fathers. Disrespectful or abusive comments will not be published.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

As usual, I went into research mode to see what the Founding Fathers had to say about this now controversial amendment. I think you'll be interested to see what they had to say. I know that I was as it gave me a better understanding of this amendment. In my not so humble opinion, I think Thomas Jefferson stated the intent of this amendment best in the first quote.

{Disclaimer: If you disagree with these quotes, I'm sorry. I'm only repeating what the men who founded this nation said.}

* The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. -- Thomas Jefferson

* A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks. -- Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785. (The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, (Memorial Edition) Lipscomb and Bergh, editors.)

* One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.
-- Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796. (The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, [Memorial Edition] Lipscomb and Bergh, editors.)

* We established however some, although not all its [self-government] important principles. The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves, in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved,) or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; --Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. (Memorial Edition 16:45, Lipscomb and Bergh, editors.)

* No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms. --Thomas Jefferson: Draft Virginia Constitution, 1776.

* They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. --Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.

* To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility, is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character. --Alexander Hamilton

* [The Constitution preserves] the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. --James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 46.

* To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, countries or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws. --John Adams, A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States 475 (1787-1788)

* Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good. --George Washington, First President of the United States

* The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them. --Thomas Paine

* To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them. --Richard Henry Lee, American Statesman, 1788

* The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun. --Patrick Henry, American Patriot

* Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands? --Patrick Henry, American Patriot

* Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not. --Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States

* The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that . . . it is their right and duty to be at all times armed. --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824. ME 16:45.

* The best we can help for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed. --Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-8

* The greatest danger to American freedom is a government that ignores the Constitution. --Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States

* There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Noah Webster, American Lexicographer

* What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms. --Thomas Jefferson, to James Madison

I think I understand better what the Founding Fathers meant in creating this amendment. They had just fought a difficult war to rid their lives of the tyranny of British rule and were determined to never let that happen again. I see a certain amount of merit in that.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Random Saturday Thoughts and a Favorite Video

Well, the Christmas tree downtown is lit courtesy of Hizzoner da mayor who wanders around with a couple guys clearing the way crowds for him. I miss our former mayor who needed no such thing -- she just turned up at the damnedest places and acted like "just folks" and even remembered everyone's name but I digress . . . At any rate, downtown is all dolled up for the holidays and all the shops were open for our monthly First Friday celebration. The ice skating rink was open, too -- 20 degree temperatures guaranteed that! I had fun despite freezing my asker off and will pay for it later, I'm sure.

* I finally got my sidebar back where it belongs after a LOT of finagling and lessons learned. You'll notice that a few widgets and awards are missing and they will return slowly but surely. There is still a lot of housekeeping to be done here.

* I haven't put up the Blogger "following" widget yet because only having 9 followers is kinda embarrassing and makes me insecure. I was just at a blog that has 155 followers. What am I doing wrong? Actually, it doesn't matter because I love all y'all unconditionally.

* Speaking of the "following" feature, it annoys me greatly when I try to add a Blogger blog and they say I can't add it. Duh?

* BearNaked has a sinful but delicious treat at her place. If I'm gonna get fat, I'm taking y'all along for the ride!!!!

* I'm working on putting together more of the Founding Fathers thoughts on various amendments in the Bill of Rights. Each will appear as I finish it.

* Tonight is symphony night and we have a guest soloist -- a pianist from Moscow who is coming to us with rave reviews! Needless to say, I'm excited!!

* My buddy Chaz over at Dustbury featured a great quote from conservative columnist, Robert Stacy McCain: "At some basic level, politics is about popularity. When the other guys nominate Will Smith and you nominate Mister Magoo, no grand ideological theory or demographic trend is necessary to explain why you got your ass kicked." He was nice -- he didn't mention Caribou Barbie.

* Here's my favorite video for the holiday season. Eartha Kitt is one of my favorite vocalists and that she's now 81 and still going strong gives me hope!



Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!

Kay

The Founding Fathers on Religion

Throughout the recent election, I've heard a lot of cr . . . er . . . ah . . . rhetoric -- yeah, that's it -- about this country being founded on the Christian religion. I also got the idea that my flavor of Christianity is not the Christianity that these people believe in which immediately makes anything I say suspect so if you feel that way, stop reading now. The Constitution's Bill of Rights clearly states:

Amendment I

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.

I put on my Thinking Cap and went into research mode. The results below are the fruits of this endeavor. It's a series of quotes from our Founding Fathers on religion. Enjoy!!!!!!! And if you don't like them, I don't want to hear about it. You can't re-write history and if you try, you're writing lies. I was both fascinated with and very proud of their words.

* If Religion consist in voluntary acts of individuals, singly, or voluntarily associated, and it be proper that public functionaries, as well as their Constituents shd discharge their religious duties, let them like their Constituents, do so at their own expense. (James Madison, memoranda, 1820)

* That religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience. (Patrick Henry)

* I am persuaded, you will permit me to observe that the path of true piety is so plain as to require but little political direction. To this consideration we ought to ascribe the absence of any regulation, respecting religion, from the Magna-Charta [Constitution] of our country. (George Washington, 1789).

* It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it was by the indulgence of one class of the people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that those who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it, on all occasions, their effectual support. (George Washington, letter to the Touro Synagogue 1790. )

* We should begin by setting conscience free. When all men of all religions ... shall enjoy equal liberty, property, and an equal chance for honors and power ... we may expect that improvements will be made in the human character and the state of society. (John Adams)

* As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of government to protect all conscientious protesters thereof, and I know of no other business government has to do therewith. (Thomas Paine, the Rights of Man)

* All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish [Muslim], appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit. I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe. It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime. He takes up the profession of a priest for the sake of gain, and in order to qualify himself for that trade he begins with a perjury. Can we conceive anything more destructive to morality than this? (Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason)

* "The legitimate powers of government," he wrote, "extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." (Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia,)

* And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion & Govt will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.
(James Madison, Letters, 1822)

* I will never, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance, or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others. (Thomas Jefferson, Letters, 1803)

I think these words above make it pretty clear what the roles of government and religion were meant to be in this country. If you've studied some of the horrendous persecutions of religions in history and some that are going on today, you know that the Founding Fathers had it right when they wrote the First Amendment.

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!

Kay