This latest shock to the national system will inevitably lead to yet another discussion about the influence incendiary broadcasters, such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, have on the minds and hearts of those who would commit such a horrible act.
But it’s not only the radio and TV talkers. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann recently bragged about how she was going to refuse participation in the census because she "does not wish to assist the president in his effort to create what she charges are ‘re-education’ camps where children would be indoctrinated in the Obama government’s official philosophy. According to Bachmann, such internment camps are the direct result of the national census, as she explained in an interview on FOX News."
If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the census bureau was handed over to the FBI and other organizations, at the request of President Roosevelt, and that’s how the Japanese were rounded up and put into the internment camps. I’m not saying that’s what the Administration is planning to do. But I am saying that private, personal information that was given to the census bureau in the 1940s was used against Americans to round them up.
The folks who irresponsibly scream "fire" in the crowded theater that is America need to be held accountable for this. Some say the person who commits the crime is 100% responsible for his or her actions, which leaves no part of the responsibility for anyone else. I look at it differently. The killer can be held responsible as well as the Becks and Bachmanns who incite them, call the percentages what you will. Don't forget Mr. Adkisson's Manifesto.
Nobody ever intended our public airwaves to be turned over to irresponsible voices. Maybe the time has come for the FCC to worry a bit less about wardrobe malfunctions and a whole lot more about those who would use our airwaves to make a name for themselves at the expense of the public they are suppose to serve – particularly when the expense comes in the form of blood.
What's your opinion? Many say Beck is in it for the ratings, what about Bachmann then? What's her motivation? Isn't the idea of shared responsibility something that makes sense? The ones who spout this poison are highly intelligent, talented people. On the receiving end you've got either extremely uneducated and unsophisticated people, Jim Adkisson for example, or the ones who are already cracked and just need a little encouragement, Timothy McVeigh for example.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the census bureau was handed over to the FBI and other organizations, at the request of President Roosevelt, and that’s how the Japanese were rounded up and put into the internment camps. I’m not saying that’s what the Administration is planning to do. But I am saying that private, personal information that was given to the census bureau in the 1940s was used against Americans to round them up.
ReplyDeleteWhat part of that is untrue? If nothing, are you really suggesting that pointing out a shameful part of U.S. history should be suppressed? That hardly sounds like something you would advocate. It sure as hell is nothing I will accept without a fight.
Besides, in the age of the Internet, do you really think using the FCC to go after their 1st Amendment rights would be enough to suppress the speech you want suppressed? I don't--I think you would have to throw them in jail, which I thought you said you didn't support.
People have a right to say things you don't want said, and I'll fight for that right. That, in itself, doesn't mean much--I'm not particularly tough--but I won't be alone.
The notion of "shared responsibility" is ridiculous.
ReplyDelete"Shared responsibility" is the antithesis of a free society. The idea that we should have to watch our words because some nutjob might hear something that wasn't even said is no different than the government telling us what we can and can't say.
And since I can't recall Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, or Bachmann telling anyone to go out and start killing people, the analogy of fire in the theater doesn't really apply to this case.
A better analogy would be someone screaming "hot" in a theater and one person assuming that there must be a fire.
Does the same hold true for you?
ReplyDeletehe killer can be held responsible as well as the Becks and Bachmanns who incite them, call the percentages what you will.
We've pointed out several times where the victim of a crime was disarmed because of gun control laws.
Are you responsible for the rapes and murders and assaults committed by the criminals because your efforts prevented an effective defense?
I'm not so sure that the facts as reported in the AP story are a full (or even accurate) representation of the case.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't make waves on the Internet, but I'm going to wait and see on this one.
Karrde, thanks for the link--I'm glad to see that common sense isn't entirely extinct. Still, as deeply in love as some people clearly are with their "right-wing hate machine" theories, little details, such as the fact that we have very little information to go on (certainly not enough to blame this on "right wing hate") are just going to annoy them.
ReplyDeleteWow, would hate to have you on a jury since you're so willing to jump to conclusions based on minimal evidence provided by a likely biased source (i.e. the story is much more dramatic and thus 'sells' better if it seems to be a nutjob, so it's very possibly spun this way).
ReplyDeleteNo matter what the true situation is, it's tragic, and if someone is responsible, I hope they pay a dear price...but personally I want to wait for more facts to come out.
We need freedom of speech and press. Period.
ReplyDeletePress is not limited to traditional anchorman behind a desk, reading news stories and introducing field reporters. Rather, "freedom of the press" means that freedom of speech applies to mass media as well as individual communication.
Any limits need to be narrow and specific, and cannot be on ideas--it is permissible to ban the F word, but not the concept itself.
The reason we couldn't stop McVeigh was that he never talked about his plans in public.
ReplyDeleteSuppressing their public speech will force them to form dangerous underground networks and direct-action cells.
This way we have plenty of evidence against them and all their friends, so we can preempt violence.
Suppressing their public speech will force them to form dangerous underground networks and direct-action cells.
ReplyDeleteThis way we have plenty of evidence against them and all their friends, so we can preempt violence.
I'm glad you brought that up, Anon, because it relates to a point I've been wanting to make.
Mikeb says "Let's Blame Beck and Hannity and Limbaugh, and Michele Bachmann"--presumably for "inciting violence," although I have yet to see or hear an example of them calling for violence--certainly nothing on the level of "Father" Michael Pfleger promising that "we are going to snuff out" a legal gun dealer, along with legislators who aren't on-board with Snuffy's forcible citizen disarmament agenda.
But then, we hear of the rabidly anti-semitic Hal Turner being paid by the FBI to say the kinds of things that supposedly incite violence, so the Fibbies could use him as an informant and agent provocateur.
What happens when such an operation as that goes off the rails, and someone (or multiple someones) gets killed?
Think the FBI is going to be held accountable?
Well, Mike--still waiting for you to apologize to Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, and Bachmann for your false (libelous?) accusation--will you get to that quickly, or should I pack a lunch?
ReplyDeleteAs I said on the other thread, this incident which is now being called a suicide is still suspicious. It could be a cover-up. But, if this one really was a suicide, then blaming Beck and Company would be wrong, but wrong only in this particular case. They are blatant hate mongers who are responsible for making America a worse place to live.
ReplyDelete