Clipmarks | Free speech Clips

Palin calls Afghanistan “our neighboring country”

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:06:50 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin called Afghanistan “our neighboring country” on Sunday in a speech that could revive questions over her tendency to stumble into linguistic knots.

Three days after a mostly gaffe-free debate performance, the Alaska governor fumbled during a speech in which she praised U.S. soldiers for “fighting terrorism and protecting us and our democratic values”.

“They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan,” she told several hundred supporters at a fundraising event in San Francisco.

The gaffe could add fuel to comedians and late-night talk show hosts who have seized on her linguistic infelicities to portray her as someone not to be taken seriously.

Later in a speech in Omaha, Neb., Palin poked a little fun at herself

“I was just trying to give Tina Fey more material — job security for Saturday Night Live,” Palin said.

Tags: palin, politics, geography, afghanistan, snl

Canadian Extremist

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:51:52 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: A stunning example that hate does not borders respect. It is universal. At least some are taking this seriously and beginning an investigation. I'm all for free speech but this goes beyond the limits of even the loosest interpretation.

Clip Source: www.thesudburystar.com

Kill gays, candidate says --

Police are investigating whether an independent federal candidate committed a hate crime by telling high school students homosexuals should be executed.

David Popescu was invited to participate in a federal candidates' discussion at Sudbury Secondary School on Tuesday. He made the comment after a student asked his opinion of gay marriage.

Popescu introduced himself with a public prayer, blaming environmental damage and economic unrest on the wickedness of society. His comments were met with silence as some students grimaced and shifted in their seats.

The crowd jeered and many rose to their feet in protest after Popescu answered another teenager's question on gay marriage.

"A young man asked me what I think of homosexual marriages and I said I think homosexuals should be executed," he said. "My whole reason for running is the Bible and the Bible couldn't be more clear on that point."

U.N. Anti-Blasphemy Resolution Curtails Free Speech, Critics Say

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:35:32 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Religious groups and free-speech advocates are banding together to fight a United Nations resolution they say is being used to spread Sharia law to the Western world and to intimidate anyone who criticizes Islam.

The non-binding resolution on “Combating the Defamation of Religion” is intended to curtail speech that offends religion -- particularly Islam.

Pakistan and the Organization of the Islamic Conference introduced the measure to the U.N. Human Rights Council in 1999. It was amended to include religions other than Islam, and it has passed every year since.

The non-binding Resolution 62/145, which was adopted in 2007, says it “notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of 11 September 2001.”

But some critics believe the resolution is a dangerous threat to freedom of speech everywhere.

Tags: religion, free speech, islam, un, united nations

Newspapers get complaints for DVD ad on Muslims

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:07:35 GMT

clipped by: arifsali
clipper's remarks: Muslims can't be the only one complaining to make this the "heaviest reaction"

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

NEW YORK – Newspapers that carried an advertising supplement in recent weeks containing a DVD critical of radical Muslims have faced complaints from readers and questions about whether newspapers should offer a platform to everyone willing to pay for distribution.

Although a few papers refused to carry the DVD, about 70 including The New York Times distributed it on the grounds that rejecting it would violate the sponsor's right to free speech. The decision generated letters, cancellations and even a protest.

"This is definitely the most feedback that I've gotten to an ad," said Ted Vaden, public editor for The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. "It's among the heaviest reaction I've gotten to anything. The great majority of the reaction was negative."

Tags: propaganda, advertising, free speech, religion

Official moderator's seal of authority (courtesy TNH)

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:49:57 GMT

clipped by: Lexica
clipper's remarks: When it comes to moderating online discussion, there is nobody I respect more than Teresa Nielsen Hayden.

Clip Source: nielsenhayden.com

Anonymous nastiness is easy to write, and will always find an appreciative audience. I don’t care. It’s not a manifestation of the free and open discourse of the internet; it’s a thing that destroys that discourse. To be specific, it’s the same old trashmouthed bullying we all know from junior high and high school. Putting it on the net doesn’t cause it to develop any novel complexities or interesting emergent behaviors. It’s just the same old sh*t.

If you have a weblog or live journal, or you administer a website that has comment threads, stand up for yourself and your readers. The jerks are never going to like you, or praise you, or admit that you’re doing the right thing. And if you’re waiting for someone to give you permission to suppress and thereafter ignore malfeasants, you have it right now. If you want, I’ll make up a certificate. Go forth and civilize.

Clip Source: www.flickr.com

Tags: moderation, community, culture, manners, anti-mean, free-speech

Book about child-bride of Mohammed on hold due to bombing

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:49:35 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: .........

Clip Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Plans to publish controversial novel about wife of Mohammed suspended after firebomb attack on publisher's home

Target: Publisher Martin Rynja's £2.5million north London townhouse iwas attacked after he said he would publish The Jewel Of Medina in Britain - the plans are now on hold

Plans for the British publication of a controversial novel about a young wife of the Prophet Mohammed have been postponed following a firebomb attack at the publisher's London office.

Martin Rynja of Gibson Square books intended to publish 'The Jewel Of Medina' by U.S. writer Sherry Jones.

Novelist Sherry Jones has urged the British people to stand by the principle of free speech to ensure that her book about the Prophet Mohammed is published here.

'You have to ask whether a thug with a gun or petrol bomb should be allowed to censor the people of Great Britain,' Miss Jones, 47, said at her home in Spokane, Washington state.

Tags: britainistan, free speech, islam, truth

History repeating its self in Palin,s world view?

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:58:49 GMT

clipped by: chedare
clipper's remarks: Sarah,s not so hot, each to his own opinion but free speech must be preserved. Obama is slick but naive Putin would bluff him I think, make all vote @ see about democracy in action.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

“The national government will maintain and defend the foundations on which the power of our nation rests. It will offer strong protection to Christianity as the very basis of our collective morality. Today Christians stand at the head of our country. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit. We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theatre, and in the press — in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of Liberal excess during the past years.”

— Adolph Hitler - Taken from The Speeches of Adolph Hitler, 1922-1939, Vol. 1,

Transcript of speaker Pelosi's speech

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:51:46 GMT

clipped by: arifsali
clipper's remarks: And if you fail, you will have a golden parachute, and the taxpayer will bail you out.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Madam speaker, when was the last time anyone ever asked you for $700 billion? It's a staggering figure. And many questions have arisen from that request. And we have been hearing, I think, a very informed debate on all sides — of — of this issue here today. I'm proud of the debate.

$700 billion. A staggering number. But only a part of the cost of the failed Bush economic policies to our country. Policies that were built on budget recklessness. When President Bush took office, he inherited President Clinton's surpluses — four years in a row, budget surpluses, on a trajectory of $5.6 trillion in surplus. And with his reckless economic policies, within two years, he had turned that around.

And now eight years later, the foundation of that fiscal irresponsibility, combined with an anything goes economic policy, has taken us to where we are today. They claim to be free market advocates, when it's really an anything goes mentality. No regulation, no supervision, no discipline.

Tags: united states, politics, democrats

Obama Campaign Text Msg: Watch The Debate On CNN

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:06:22 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: First, can you imagine the heartbreak at MSNBC? I mean, the Olbermann network has been trying so hard to be the Obama Network, and then to get this punch in the gut!

Second, can you imagine what would have been the reaction if John McCain had texted his supporters, saying, "Watch Fox"? Well, the roof would have caved in, media-criticism-wise.

Looks like the campaign figured out how to speak SMS short-hand and thus free up enough characters to type out "any of the major networks or cable" vs. "CNN."

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Watch Barack debate John McCain tonight at 9pm Eastern on CNN. Also, remind friends to register to vote at VoteForChange.com. Please forward this message.

This is particularly odd given that the debate will be airing on every network, both broadcast and cable, at 9pm Eastern. Has the Obama campaign officially endorsed CNN?

In July, the campaign blasted a text promoting Obama's speech in Berlin saying, "The speech will be live on CNN."

Update 6:30 PM: The Obama campaign must have revised its message. I've just now received a follow-up text saying,

Watch Barack Debate John McCain tonight at 9pm ET on any of the major networks or cable. Fwd this msg & remind friends to register to vote at VoteForChange.com

Tags: : barack obama, barack obama cnn, cnn, presidential debate, media news

India’s Catholic bishops ask government to subdue violent Hindu radicals

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:32:13 GMT

clipped by: Efrain Alvarado

Clip Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com

Bangalore, Sep 26, 2008 / 05:09 pm (CNA).- The executive body of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, meeting in Bangalore on Friday, issued a statement expressing "utter disappointment" at the "apathy and inaction" of the national and state governments in the face of anti-Christian violence committed by extremist Hindus. Calling upon Indian officials to stop the violence and to help its victims, they denied allegations of forced conversions to Christianity and suggested such charges are self-serving.

The bishops lamented the murder of innocent people, the molestation of women, the desecration and destruction of churches and religious places, and the destruction of Christians’ homes in various districts of the east coast state of Orissa, the Indian Catholic reports.

"Some have even sacrificed their lives for refusing to reconvert,"

"we cannot renounce the heritage of love and justice that Jesus left us."

"We invite everyone to join in prayer for our great nation,

Tags: india, catholic, church, martyrdom, persecution, religion, free speech

YouTube.com pulls full version of video on abortion and Hispanics

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:26:18 GMT

clipped by: Efrain Alvarado

Clip Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com

[Video]

CNA STAFF, Sep 26, 2008 / 01:06 pm (CNA).- YouTube.com has pulled the complete Spanish version of the pro-life video “The Hard Truth” as presented by Mexican actor Eduardo Verastegui. In the video, the actor informs Hispanic voters about the abortion industry and the position of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The unedited video, which features graphic images of abortions carried out in the United States, can be seen at www.durarealidad.com.

In the video, Verastegui says Hispanics are the ones most affected by the abortion industry.

“Abortion is not only a lucrative industry; it is also used by people who are racist as a means to eliminate our people, since they consider us to be a threat to democracy in this country,” Verastegui states.

“Obama supports abortions performed during the last trimester of pregnancy,” “the inhuman partial birth abortion,” and he wants “to finance abortions with the tax dollars you and I pay,” the Mexican actor points out.

Tags: free speech, abortion, censorship, prolife

Virginia State Police chaplains resign over ban on ‘Jesus’ words

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:23:54 GMT

clipped by: Efrain Alvarado

Clip Source: www.catholicnewsagency.com

Richmond, Sep 26, 2008 / 08:56 pm (CNA).- At least five Virginia State Police chaplains have resigned after being told they must refrain from using words like "Jesus" and "Christ."

Superintendent W. Steven Flaherty, reportedly concerned about offending people of other faiths, directed the agency’s 17 chaplains to begin delivering neutral or nondenominational prayers at functions such as trooper graduation ceremonies and its annual memorial service for fallen officers, the Richmond Times-Dispatch says

Rex Carter, one of the resigning chaplains, argued he should have the right to pray "how I believe, regardless of whether somebody agrees or not," saying "There's a fine line -- but it's a hard line -- between an individual's right to pray versus what is considered state-sponsored speech.

"You don't check your religious beliefs at the door just because you're hired by the state and are a member of the department," he said, characterizing the decision as the "separation of Jesus and state."

Tags: jesus, free speech, religion, state

MO Gov. Blunt slams Obama attempt to stifle free speech

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:19:09 GMT

clipped by: n2sooners

Clip Source: governor.mo.gov

St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.

What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment

This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to Jefferson’s thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights.

Barack Obama needs to grow up

Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society

Tags: blunt, obama, missouri, free speech, election, politics

Having Their Cake and Eating It Too

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:40:06 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: From the article:

"Let's imagine that the Alliance Defense Fund and its clerical clients were to persuade the Supreme Court to overturn the Johnson amendment's ban on political endorsements from the pulpit. At that point, what would prevent wealthy ideologues from making tax-exempt contributions to sympathetic pastors' churches for the express purpose of engaging in partisan electioneering? For that matter, what would prevent ambitious pastors from soliciting just such contributions and then using them to bind like-minded ministers into powerful political machines?"

Clip Source: www.latimes.com

Beware the bully pulpit

Pastors plan to challenge a ban on religious leaders making political endorsements in church. It's a bad idea.

Every act of civil disobedience is, by its very nature, a provocation. The trick is to distinguish between those acts that genuinely express the unjustly ignored conscience of the provocateur and those that merely are provocative.

On Sunday, 33 evangelical Protestant pastors in 22 states will demand that the rest of us do precisely that, when they participate in a "pulpit initiative" conceived by an Arizona-based Christian legal organization -- the Alliance Defense Fund -- which hopes to overturn the Internal Revenue Code's 54-year-old ban on political endorsements by tax-exempt organizations, including churches.

The lawyers and the pastors they've recruited argue that the ban -- originally sponsored by then-Texas Sen. Lyndon Johnson in 1954 -- violates the clergy's 1st Amendment rights to both free speech and free exercise of religion.

Jailed ayatollah asks Pope to help free him

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:43:29 GMT

clipped by: Efrain Alvarado

Clip Source: clericalwhispers.blogspot.com

Iran's jailed Ayatollah Sayyid Hossein Kazemeini Boroujerdi has written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI and other religious leaders asking them to help secure his release.

The ayatollah asked the pontiff to "...defend the divine credibility and spiritual sacredness" by asking the Iranian authorities to respect human rights.

The letter was reportedly smuggled out of jail and distributed by the ayatollah's representative in Europe.

Addressing the Muslim leaders, Kazemeini says that "Political Islam is erasing the word of God and his prophet, Mohammed", while he asks rabbis to "make the world hear the cry of the Muslims in Iran, in the name of the same God that (we) jointly worship."

Kazemeini has been jailed since October 2006 with a group of his supporters. They have been accused of anti-constitutional activities and heresy.

He is known to oppose political Islam and the presence of the mullahs and ayatollahs in government and in

Tags: free speech, religion