In the past couple of weeks there have been some cases of bloggers getting into trouble. One involved an anonymous blogger in New York who allegedly wrote false and defamatory comments about Liskula Cohen, a model. Cohen sued, and a judge ordered Google — who hosted the blogger — to release the blogger's identity to Cohen and her attorney. Turns out the blogger was a woman who turned up in some of the same social settings as Cohen.
No case is more bizarre than one originating out of New Jersey, which involves a blogger, Chicago judges and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Hal Turner is an Internet radio host and blogger who wrote that three federal appellate judges in Chicago should be killed because of their ruling against the National Rifle Association's attempt to overturn a couple of handgun bans. Turner followed up by posting pictures of the judges and a map of the courthouse. He also pointed out where the truck-bomb barriers were around the courthouse. Writing that people should be killed isn't libel but it is dangerous to incite such violence.
Not surprisingly, Turner got a visit from the FBI and is now in jail awaiting trial. Wired reported Wednesday that Turner claims he worked for the FBI between 2002 and 2007.
The aforementioned is an excerpt from an editorial I read in the LSJ ( entire editorial in link) but after reading it , I begun to think if there ramifcation and consequences of irresonsible speech?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009716909_ryan23.html?syndication=rss
I feel as if I I am unarmed due to the current violently hateful rhetoric coming from the right which distrubes me, and in the absence of any law enforcement counter measures to prevent legitimate dissent and free speech from spilling over into sedition, I think most other progressives are becoming apprehensive for the sfaty of the country.
Is firearm neccessary, to protect myself from the people who are breathing fire against our government and our President? Should I trust the extremist people who disagree with political opposition by spreading lies, slander and inflammatory rumors? To behave and act responsibly within their bounds of their loyal opposition when dealing withour legitimately elected President? Isn’t most of this inciting rhetoric creating a public fear and rebellion against those who do not please the right seditious?
This concerns me because I wonder if there a lax legal response to these veiled threats to elected public officials and why is there no accountability required for direct incitement to anger via lies that whip up the GOP base? Why is it cool to hype radical discontent,and preach blind partisanship at the expense of others?
Should the government exercise its legitimate authority to moderate and restrain extremism leading to unrest, which could lead to chaos that could lead to civil war and tyranny as a result result? I'm not talking about suppression of dissent or curtailment of constitutional rights. However, it’s important not to ingnore the real possibilties of dangers when things are not done civilly and without threat to others. I think President Obama needs to stop being afraid of the right. If I were him, I would take a very long hard look at the proposed dangers.
Sedition was not tolerated when the Republicans held the highest offices in the land and the same rules ought now apply when the other party now holds those positions as a result of legitmate and verified elections that put the Democratic Party in charge of those offices.
Constitutional freedoms does not include standing by and letting sedition happen against the legitimate functioning of government officials.Public law and order and domestic civility must be defended and maintained. Peoples' rights are limited to constitutional boundaries that imply the safety and good working order of our legimately elected democracy. I guess we won’t be statsifed until majority whom placed Obama in office is silenced by fear and intimidation by this consistent under minding of President Obama unil we get anoter Bush/Chenny.! Just a thought!
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