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September 02, 2005
See No Evil, Hear No Evil, . . . or Do Time
Talk about "red-state fascism!" Here's Ralph Hostetter at CNSNews.com:
Simply stated, if a person lives in the United States as a citizen and accepts the protection of the U.S. government against enemies, foreign and domestic, and shares in the prosperity of the nation as a result of this protection, there is an obligation on the part of that person, especially in wartime, to support the nation and its goals.
Got that? If you live a free country, you are not entitled to exercise your freedom when your government chooses to make war "for freedom" in foreign countries.
Recent statements made at events in Crawford, Texas, and on TV and radio commercials, while we are at war, would have been declared treasonous in World War II and would have resulted in prosecution. Freedom of speech claims would have provided no defense. . . .
Prior to World War II there was a period of "yellow" (irresponsible) journalism and further, there was a strong anti-war movement in the nation.
Aha! Antiwar sentiments arise because of yellow journalism, not because people have genuine reasons to oppose a war!
At the president's direction, Congress established the Office of Censorship, which brought all media, print, radio and cable under its jurisdiction. Byron Price, CEO of Associated Press, was put in charge.
This, apparently, is a good thing, according to Mr. Hostetter. What is not good is that the government didn't crack down on "irresponsible" journalism and public speech during Vietnam and thereafter, for "[p]ermitting the treasonable acts of the Vietnam War to go unchallenged has indeed allowed treason to prosper today."
Here are some more choice quotes from the rest of Hostetter's paean to censorship:
At the present time, the full volume of the voice of the Hollywood Left, backed by a less than honest mass media, is directed at President George W. Bush and his policies, both national and international.
The president is openly called a liar. These statements are intended to undermine America's confidence in its leadership in time of war and give aid and comfort to its enemies. Clearly, and by definition, treason is no longer hidden below the surface. . . .
Polls influenced by the press coverage have driven public confidence in the nation's leadership to an all-time low.
The group of dissidents in Crawford, Texas, has started a drumbeat to withdraw our troops from Iraq. The mass media has fallen in step.
The expansion of this protest across the nation could reach such volume that the political direction of the nation could be changed, posing a clear and present danger to the security of the American people.
Yes, folks, unless the government is allowed to control everything you see, hear, and say, you can kiss your "security" goodbye. If that ain't red-state fascism, I don't know what is.
Posted by Mike Tennant at September 2, 2005 09:40 AM
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