OUR OPINION: Obama should defend free speech
September 17, 2012 at 6:30 pm in Grand Forks Herald
The U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of free speech is one of the landmark achievements of human civilization. It’s a bedrock freedom for which the Statue of Liberty lifts her lamp beside the golden door.
And it should be honored as such not downplayed, not soft-pedaled and not apologized for. Continue Reading
Muslims perceive America as being weak. Obama isn’t helping matters with his inaction. We should be raining fire and brimstone on them until they go back to being exotic camel jockeys that mind their own business. But, we won’t. We’ll just bring more of them here by the thousands where they will continue their plan to convert the world to Islam.
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Doc: rein fire on who? What people forget is unless you want to indiscriminately kill tens of thousands of civilians, those responsible for killing the ambassador & his staff will be found through police work & dispatched via sniper fire; not cruise missiles.
A sk the Israelis. They are the experts. They also have the most sophisticated military in the region. They learned the futility of sending the tanks in. They still kill bad guys, just quietly
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They want to become martyrs, the world needs less crazy Muslims… I see it as a win-win situation. Bring on the Dillon Aero miniguns and literally “liquidate” as many of them that show themselves. They are taught from small on in the madrassas how to hate and who to hate. Christians and Jews are high on the list. So, don’t think for a minute that women and children are innocent. This sort of thing will only get worse as time goes on until we act with resolve to drive them back with force until they see the futility of raising our ire.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I figure the more that pop the less there should be in the future. If the world truly wanted to rid itself of radicals, the governments would know what to do during the riots.
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FN: I think you just got Trolled…….Perfect topic for the mindless trolls to play their foolish games…..
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Tom D nails it again.
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Interesting opinion, Herald staff. You’re talking about the 1st. Amendment and how it shouldn’t be ‘downplayed, not soft-pedeled and not apologized for’…these are all GOP talking points these days it seems. Then you turn right around and say the administration ‘certainly hasn’t apologized for’ our freedom of speech. And you are right, it hasn’t. That’s a lost cause and here’s why. If one has been paying attention to the few Muslims interviewed on t.v. that have been rioting in the streets across the world, you would soon realize that they have no idea what the 1st Amendment is. The don’t know what freedom of speech is. They have lived (many of them in the Middle East) under the rule of dictators for untold generations where freedom of speech didn’t exist, where many of the freedoms we take for granted dont exist. They don’t understand our system. They don’t understand that Obama or Hillary Clinton do not have any power over the making of the video in question. They don’t understand that the government cannot put someone in jail here in the US for making fun of the Prophet. They don’t understand that even the US government cannot force Google to take that offensive video off YouTube. That offensive video will be on YouTube forever. They have their religious leaders telling them they must protest. The Middle East has been occupied by the West for generations. The West conquered the land (for oil) and re-drew boundaries between countries and created a new country in the their midst. There is a whole lot of pent-up anger and frustration there. David Frum outlines what President Obama SHOULD say to the world in his upcoming speech to the UN. The vast majority of the people rioting in the streets in the Muslim world will not hear that speech. Many of them cannot comprehend free speech and the freedoms we enjoy. Their leaders in the UN will hear Obama’s speech. They will not carry that message home to their people. They know their people will not understand it anyway. And if you look back at the last 30 or 40 years, Muslim protests at US embassies and consulates have happened many times. They will probably continue to happen until the West is out of that area. And no, this is not an apology for what happened over there, the riots and massive destruction. The loss of life at the embassie/consulates is tragic. The loss of more US military personnel because of this video is also tragic. My vote is to get our military out of that part of the world. And soon.
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It’s amazing what you learn if you follow the news….I wonder if anyone told Tom that yet?
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Thanks for the enlightening post-It’s past time to get our military out-sometimes I wonder if our military is big oils body guard at our expense…
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This editorial contradicts itself as it affirms that Obama has, in fact, not obliterated the first amendment. Realistically, the administration has had to walk a very fine line between affirming our rights in this country and not adding fuel to the fire of the mideast protests by giving full-throated support for the stupid video that sparked an already primed populace in muslim countries to riot who think it’s high time that the United States gets out of their business. The oil is not worth it, in my opinion. We should get out butts out of there pronto.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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” here’s hoping President Barack Obama offers a much stronger defense of the First Amendment than he or his administration have done to date. ”
Obama doesn’t seem to value the SECOND amendment, why would we expect him to value the FIRST?
Obama–and Bush, and most of Congress is using the Constitution for toilet paper. This is not new, and it is not limited to one or the other party.
It IS a disaster for America, though.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Has the President taken away any of your 2nd amendment right?
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As per the 2nd Amendment claim…I will answer that question myself. The President has not taken away any rights. There HAVE been rumors about that since he was a candidate back in ’08, and those rumors have persisted up to this day. Who has been the winner in this? The retail people who sell weapons of all kinds and the ammunition to go with said weapons. They’ve made a killing (pun intended) on rumors alone. And what will happen if the President is re-elected…a hypothetical question…and there still is no 2nd Amendment infringement? The rumors will persist….for a while….the retailers will continue to have big grins on their faces and life will go on. I am a hunter myself. I have weapons. And I laugh and shake my head when I see people saying President Obama will take away your weapons.
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” where they will continue their plan to convert the world to Islam.”
Fewer that 100 years after the death of the Prophet, Islam had spread from the Middle East, through North Africa, and conquered most of the Iberian Penninsula. Had it not been stopped by Charles Martel at the Battle of Poitiers, we may all be speaking Arabic now. That success came from a fanaticism that made the Spanish Inquisition look like kindergarteners. It’s that same fanaticism we are seeing now. The misplaced allure of diversity and multiculturalism is simply unlocking the door.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I agree with Tom Dennis on this issue. However, for those conservatives who keep trumpeting the need to protect the 1st amendment. I’d just like to point out that many of them have been trying to undermine the establishment clause ever since it was written.
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If the left had the means currently to eliminate free speech they would.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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When our Justice Department filters talking points to Media Matters, a Sorus backed fact center and spin opperation, to demean free press, who believe in free speach. NOT, NOT, the OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, even their SYCOPHANTS CAN NOT AGREE! Or do they agree for sociialism sake??
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Oh John…..On the last go around we finally seemed to find some sort of comfort zone…The campfire burned, while right and left made smores, and sang old Creedance hits……….And then this comes along and you go all Reefer Maddness like once again (If you never seen the show……Over the top scare factor)……..Oh well……I’m sure you’ll get grounded sooner or later….unlike someone else’s I have words with on the right….You actually have a brain
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Tundra, we both have strong convictions.
Thank you for your compliment about having a brain! we share that but I am hoping to win you over as you my beliefs. We probably have similiar philosophy, but a different perception of reality! Take care and have a great day!
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Everybody says that about me too.
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” But we will not stop our people from speaking out, even when they say insulting things. ”
Oh NO YOU DIDNT!!!
Dear Tom Dennis, you DO realize that you work for forumcommunications.The EXACT same outfit that decided they needed to STIFLE the voices of the Fargo area readers (closed down AREA VOICES) of their flagship newspaper….for “saying insulting things” about said paper….RIGHT?? Wow, apparently HYPOCRISY rules the day over at forumcom.
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I’ve heard that several times, but I don’t think I heard it was because they were insulting the paper. It does seem a bit thin skinned though. I hope they don’t shut this one down (Although from time to time a couple people who apparently didn’t realize they weren’t forced to read the “Voices” section have called for it) Discussing articles makes this much more enjoyable than just the news by itself.
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Petey, I was wondering why the fargo forum no longer has areavoices. I am disgusted!!!
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Talking of free speech — why no comments sections on the Jesus Camp story?
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I believe the muslim camp makes the Jesus Camp look a little binign. I personally do not care about the hate of either organized religion, but and a big but we are still a christian nation, not the Muslim nation Obama wants! An oppinion based on current or apparent US policy, in my oppinion .
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First, it helps to be able to SPELL if you wish to be taken seriously. Next, for you to say that the President wants us to be a “muslim nation”….makes you a loon…and a bigot. Finally, no matter how many times you click your heels together and SAY IT…this is NOT…and never WILL BE a ‘christian nation’. It may have a majority of christian residents…but there is NO ‘official’ religion…thankfully!
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