As long as freedom of speech is being debated

[timtom]

rather heavily today, I'm sure most of you have seen this:

http://www.theobamaforum.com/showthread.php?s=206cdb223f9198fad77425fd633e3a0d&t=1808

I'm sure we'll recognize some old "friends" on this list. I'm sure that many of us would like to see them disappear.

But the issue of free speech comes up.

Talk it over amongst yourselves. I'll just be over here by the punch.

[Truth2Tell]

1. It's too bad these sites aren't books.

Then we could stack them up in big pile and burn them.

Right?

[Wildewolfe]

2. As long as the issue of free speech continues to be debated

then free speech in some form will continue to live. It's when the ability to discuss the right itself becomes unhinged that we are in true peril.

The list of websites in that link just make me want to shiver and puke. But 25 years ago I did my time in uniform to guarantee even those folks the right to free speech even when it's the crap that comes out over there.

The key thing to remember is that when you are silent you truely give up your free speech. When you are vocal in your opposition to hatred and violence your are exercising your right.

America has been silent a long time. The hate spewers haven't been. But I think, I hope that America is slowly finding her voice again.