Idiocy Is Global
You don't protect freedom by crushing it. Yet, stupidos around the globe are trying to criminalize free speech. In France, they're trying to jail a rapper for pissing on the Republic. Angela Crisafis writes in The Guardian:
One of France's most popular rappers will appear in court today charged with offending public decency with a song in which he referred to France as a "slut" and vowed to "piss" on Napoleon and Charles de Gaulle. Monsieur R, whose real name is Richard Makela, could face three years in prison or a €75,000 (£51,000) fine after an MP from the ruling UMP party launched legal action against him over his album Politikment Incorrekt.In the video for the song FranSSe, Makela, 30, appeared dressed as a gendarme with two naked women rubbing against the French flag as he rapped: "France is a bitch, don't forget to fuck her till she's exhausted/You have to treat her like a slut, man." At another point in the song, he sang: "I piss on Napoleon and on General de Gaulle."
When Daniel Mach, MP for Pyrénées-Orientales, heard the album last year, he proposed a law making it a criminal offence to insult the dignity of France and the French state. In November, when riots broke out in France's run-down suburbs, another UMP deputy, François Grosdidier, won the support of 152 MPs and 49 senators who demanded that parliament act against Makela's lyrics. But by then Mr Mach had taken a personal action against Makela for making and disseminating "violent and pornographic messages" to which minors could get access.
...Makela, who was born in Belgium and came to France aged 14, told Le Parisien he did not target any particular group but rapped against "the system". "You can have a critical view of the French state without being anti-French or racist."
In America, idiot fundanutter Frist never quite figured out what "freedom of speech" means. Here he is on Fox from ThinkProgress:
Today on Fox News Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) tried to argue that banning flag-burning and same-sex marriage are two of the nation’s most pressing priorities, which is why he put them on the Senate agenda for June:HOST: …Are gay marriage and flag burning the most important issues the Senate can be addressing in June of 2006?FRIST:…When you look at that flag and you tell me that right now people in this country are saying it’s okay to desecrate that flag and to burn it and to not pay respect to it, is that important to our values as a people when we’ve got 130,000 people fighting for our freedom and liberty today? That is important. It may not be important here in Washington where people say, well, it’s political posturing and all, but it’s important to the heart and soul of the American people. … Why marriage today? Marriage is for our society that union between a man and a woman, is the cornerstone of our society. It is under attack today.
What's under attack are our rights and freedoms, you moron. By primitive, homophobic puppets like you. I don't see myself burning a flag -- but I celebrate and defend every American's right to do it. Frist, like radical feminists, seeks to shut people up, as if that's going to make for a healthier republic. Exactly the opposite is true.
At what point does a person surrender the rights guaranteed by the Constitution?
Right now, it's upon conviction of a felony - that's all.
Though I consider it idiotic to burn the icon of the very society which is chartered in such a way as to let you do that, all that really has to be done is to make flag-burning a felony, and zip! The offender will have to find other ways to express themselves.
Question: have you seen a flag-burner whose character you would emulate? How so and why?
Radwaste at May 31, 2006 9:27 AM
Does anyone (outside of the Hairy City of Berkeley) even burn U.S. flags anymore? It's really lost its power as a statement, don't you think? Piss still packs a punch, however.
Lena Cuisina, Volunteer of America at May 31, 2006 10:48 AM
I think when the flag is burnt by Palestinians celebrating the destruction of WTC, it can have a pretty powerful impact.
That said, I still think its idiotic to criminalize this activity in the States. If the flag was so sacrosanct, the Republican and Democratic parties wouldn't mess with its colors to make it show up better on TV while on the campaign trail. The Supreme Court has ruled on this several times. Its protected speech. Deal with it. You don't have a right to not be offended.
snakeman99 at May 31, 2006 2:09 PM
For a excellent protest of some insane commentary going around, I found something that I thought should be a Memorial Day essay : better late then never.
http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2006/05/lions_led_by_donkeys.html
The power hungry do not dare allow even symbolic protest. So much for free speech and freedom of expression. There's a reason it's the PATRIOT ACT ...satire !
opit at May 31, 2006 2:09 PM
have you seen a flag-burner whose character you would emulate? How so and why?
John Trudell and/or any other member of the Lakota Oglala tribe.
I'm not fond of seeing people overseas disrespect the flag, but for those who ancestors were here first, I'd give them every right.
LYT at May 31, 2006 5:50 PM
We must be the envy of the entire world, that's all I can say. If the most pressing concerns of our government are flag-burning and gay marriage (regardless of which side we come down on), all I can say is, we must have it made. Crime rates? Gas prices? Unemployment? NO PROBLEM!
Patrick at June 1, 2006 6:20 AM
> but for those who ancestors
> were here first
I'm 1/64th Cherokee... One of the incoming Scotsmen on my mother's side was a no-account horndog. Do I have the right?
Crid at June 1, 2006 12:08 PM
> We must be the envy of the entire
> world, that's all I can say
We are.
Crid at June 1, 2006 12:09 PM
As an expat for over 20 years, I would't call it "envy", but rather "fascination", an entirely different thing. Goes both ways...
Frog in L.A. at June 4, 2006 9:26 PM
What I desire to know is why you didnt believe to include the other side of this issue? There are so a lot of things that youre missing here that I dont see how you could really form an intelligent opinion on the subject. Its like you didnt even think about that there me be another side here. Im type of disappointed.
davidcarlallison at June 6, 2011 2:01 PM
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