Just out of curiosity, I took a glance at the Amnesty International website to see what they have on violations of free speech around the world. I found some rather interesting entries (this does become relevant, you'll see) :
In 2005, physician Kamal al-Labwanim was arrested for speaking to human rights organizations and government officials in the U.S. and Europe about the abuses perpetrated by the Syrian Government. Amnesty's website states that "Prior to Kamal al-Labwani's first hearing on 12 November 2005, he had no access to a lawyer or his family..." Any similarity to a certain interview in our own Town is purely coincidental.
A page dated October 2006 says: "A new report released today by Amnesty International reveals a climate of fear in Viet Nam [sic], with people afraid to post information online and Internet café owners forced to inform on their customers. Individuals are harassed, detained and imprisoned for expressing their peaceful political views online, with fear of prosecution fuelling widespread self-censorship... Those who stand up for free speech are publicly harassed and persecuted." So, people are being punished for what they write on the Internet or say in public? Say it ain't so, Joe!
In 2002, Amnesty had this to say about the Government of Haiti: "Throughout the year the authorities repeatedly stated their general commitment to freedom of speech, but increasingly added conditions that raised doubts about the commitment." It seems anyone who thought public officials tell the truth about protecting the rights of the citizens may have been a bit naive.
In Azerbaijan, journalists work in a very risky profession: "Journalists are only free to express opinions that fall in line with government directives. Anyone daring to voice criticism of the authorities or to expose Azerbaijan's enduring corruption problem faces an uncertain future..." Of course, that really only applies to those who pretend to be reporters, not those who act responsibly and refrain from asking tough questions of government officials.
And the list goes on. It's not the actual punishment that is frightening, but the fact that in the 21st Century, anyone should have to worry about whether what he says will subject him to punishment or sanction of any sort.
The Amnesty International website makes mention on several occasions of the "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights", a Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. Since the liberal Left in America seems to have much greater respect for international law and the domestic law of other nations than it does for our own Constitution, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at what this document sets forth:
Article 19. Section 2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
Yes, there it is in black and white. Public Comment is a privilege, not a right. That's what the U.N. tells us... Oh, wait. That's not what it says at all. I guess if you happen to think that it is a privilege instead of a right, you've got it all wrong. Go figure.
In 2005, physician Kamal al-Labwanim was arrested for speaking to human rights organizations and government officials in the U.S. and Europe about the abuses perpetrated by the Syrian Government. Amnesty's website states that "Prior to Kamal al-Labwani's first hearing on 12 November 2005, he had no access to a lawyer or his family..." Any similarity to a certain interview in our own Town is purely coincidental.
A page dated October 2006 says: "A new report released today by Amnesty International reveals a climate of fear in Viet Nam [sic], with people afraid to post information online and Internet café owners forced to inform on their customers. Individuals are harassed, detained and imprisoned for expressing their peaceful political views online, with fear of prosecution fuelling widespread self-censorship... Those who stand up for free speech are publicly harassed and persecuted." So, people are being punished for what they write on the Internet or say in public? Say it ain't so, Joe!
In 2002, Amnesty had this to say about the Government of Haiti: "Throughout the year the authorities repeatedly stated their general commitment to freedom of speech, but increasingly added conditions that raised doubts about the commitment." It seems anyone who thought public officials tell the truth about protecting the rights of the citizens may have been a bit naive.
In Azerbaijan, journalists work in a very risky profession: "Journalists are only free to express opinions that fall in line with government directives. Anyone daring to voice criticism of the authorities or to expose Azerbaijan's enduring corruption problem faces an uncertain future..." Of course, that really only applies to those who pretend to be reporters, not those who act responsibly and refrain from asking tough questions of government officials.
And the list goes on. It's not the actual punishment that is frightening, but the fact that in the 21st Century, anyone should have to worry about whether what he says will subject him to punishment or sanction of any sort.
The Amnesty International website makes mention on several occasions of the "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights", a Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. Since the liberal Left in America seems to have much greater respect for international law and the domestic law of other nations than it does for our own Constitution, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at what this document sets forth:
Article 19. Section 2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
Yes, there it is in black and white. Public Comment is a privilege, not a right. That's what the U.N. tells us... Oh, wait. That's not what it says at all. I guess if you happen to think that it is a privilege instead of a right, you've got it all wrong. Go figure.
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