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Wednesday, May 6. 2015

In praise of provocative speech


America has a proud tradition of provocative, obnoxious, and even treasonous speech going back to Tom Paine if not further back. (My ancestors were Tories.) Unlike any other nation in the world, it is one of our first principles. Indeed, we are an exceptional country.


Americans revel in provocative, intemperate, reckless, savage, irreverent, and satirical speech. While Americans appreciate good manners, there are times when unmannerliness is called for, even if only for fun or to make a point. Manners are mostly not encased in law, after all. Our artists, comedians, playwrights, atheists, absurd Marxist revolutionaries, pornographers, etc. all enjoy transgressing manners, propriety, and sensitivity, for better or worse. It's a free country. If you are hypersensitive here, buy a helmet.


That's why we get a kick out of the irreverent and unmannerly Pam Geller. She is a tough New York broad. I love provocative speech of any sort, even when it's about myself (well, sort of).


Anyway, if this were about satirical Roman Catholic cartoons, would the media be so upset? It would be different.




Posted by The Barrister in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 16:49 | Comments (16) | Trackbacks (0)

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Thanks Barrister. I just wrote a post about this issue -I was thinking about what my Father would do when he came back from WWII and a group told him that he would be killed if he offended them. I do believe Dad would be at the VFW Hall (or possibly Dunkin' Donuts) with his friends telling that group to Bring. It. On.
#1 ron snyder on 2015-05-06 22:15 (Reply)
Thank you. More people need to see this. I will be sharing it.
#2 altered states (Link) on 2015-05-07 00:00 (Reply)
South Park ran a cartoon with Muhammad in 2001, on national tv no less, and nothing apparently happened.
#3 Becky on 2015-05-07 00:01 (Reply)
I am at my best when I first wake up. A cup or 2 of coffee and I think I am brilliant, (it soon fades). Pamela Gellar is way smarter and braver than I can comprehend.
#4 ostinato on 2015-05-07 01:54 (Reply)
Just to be clear, while Geller has every legal right to spew her hate, she is no Rosa Parks.
http://muslimgirl.net/12016/dm2015/
#5 Zachriel on 2015-05-07 09:03 (Reply)
how's that ISIS sympathy act working out for you?

Why do you people have such problems with the first amendment?
#5.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-05-07 09:53 (Reply)
Just to be clear, she also has a ball sack larger than you could ever dream of having.
#6 Scullman on 2015-05-07 09:45 (Reply)
well.. do you know what kind of personal bravery it takes to show up and lecture people about the weather and be ridiculed for it? Zach is exactly the same as Rosa Parks (as he sees it), except they spell their names differently.
#6.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-05-07 09:55 (Reply)
"... if this were about satirical Roman Catholic cartoons, would the media be so upset?"

Are you seriously suggesting that you don't remember the huge media uproar over the provocative Piss Christ? The dung-covered Madonna? Come on!
#7 Artemus on 2015-05-07 10:20 (Reply)
Uproar? Yeah.
Bishops, priests and other religious, running around demanding the death of the artist?

Not so much.
#7.1 Scullman on 2015-05-07 10:28 (Reply)
Uproar? You must be joking!

The only uproar was the Media mocking those Christians who took offense at those "works of art", claiming they were just unsophisticated boobs whose religiosity made them incapable of seeing the valuable message conveyed by such "art".
#7.2 Earl T on 2015-05-07 12:33 (Reply)
Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz: Why do you people have such problems with the first amendment?

Under the First Amendment, Geller has every right to spew hate. She also has every right to protest freedom of religion. That doesn't make her a Rosa Parks.
#8 Zachriel on 2015-05-07 10:48 (Reply)
Who said Rosa Parks?

This is about free speech and the freedom to offend.

I see no hate, however.
#8.1 Bird Dog on 2015-05-07 11:04 (Reply)
Bird Dog: I see no hate, however.

Pamela Geller has called for demolishing mosques and abolishing Islam. The keynote speaker at the Texas event, Geert Wilders, has called for outlawing the Koran. These are not friends of free speech or freedom of religion.

How to draw Muhammad
http://muslimgirl.net/12016/dm2015/
#8.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-05-07 14:33 (Reply)
"called for demolishing mosques and abolishing Islam"

and you have a problem with that because?
#8.1.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-05-07 17:10 (Reply)
"demolishing mosques and abolishing Islam"

It may come to that. I don't think the jihad apoligists understand the problem yet. They mean to kill and enslave us. Even those "moderate" muslims would applaud the radical muslims killing jews and destroying Israel. It is inevitable that the radical muslims will get a nuke or nukes and they will use them. What then? Will the jihad apoligists understand then? If you are young enough and the world holds together long enough you will see the day that muslim terrorists nuke a major Western city. It could be a few years, it could be tomorrow but it will happen. Will the jihad apoligists still think this is about "free speech"?
This is what Israel is worried about. They know they are the bulls eye for the first nuke. Israel is too small to absorb any kind of nuclear attack and survive as a nation. Because of this it is possible even probable that Israel will be left with no other choice but to attack first. That is what this is all about: nuclear war in the Middle East or maybe nuclear terrorism in large Western city. It will happen. It's just a matter of time. Many believe that Iran already has nukes perhaps half a dozen or so. North Korea may have as many as a hundred nukes and may be trying to sell some. Pakistan and India have nukes and there is always the possibility of either of these two countries losing control of their nukes. Pakistan is especially shaky and their military and various factions are prone to violent disagreement. We live in interesting times.
#9 GoneWithTheWind on 2015-05-07 20:07 (Reply)

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