First Amendment Rights Under Attack

“Of course, the aim of a constitutional democracy is to safeguard the rights of the minority and avoid the tyranny of the majority.” ― Cornel West

“Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government: When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected in its ruins.” – Benjamin Franklin

Removing content from websites, prohibiting free expression over the airwaves, and burning books are all very similar in nature. They all are ways that ideas can be repressed, and kept from public knowledge. They are all forms of censorship. It is estimated that in the 1930’s the German Nazis burned 80 to 90,000 volumes, and confiscated many more. [1] But the banning and burning of books - and ideas - has been done throughout history. [2]

In August of 2018, what George Orwell warned about in his book “1984” began happen in earnest in America. [3] The writings and speech of a number of popular commentators, because of being controversial, were prohibited from the free expression guaranteed by the First Amendment. [4]

From August 6th through August 16, 2018:

• Alex Jones’ websites and web platforms were removed
• Scott Creighton’s website and web platforms were removed
• Tampa911truth.wordpress.com website was removed
• Bonnie Faulkner’s radio show “Guns & Butter” was removed and banned from KPFA Pacifica Radio.

Others have been similarly affected. “Community Guidelines” are being used as justification. Whose content will be taken down next?

I may not agree with everything another may express, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a right to that expression.

Can we no longer expect the First Amendment to be upheld in principle simply because the medium of expression is digital? What rights do any of us have if only those espousing “approved of” viewpoints are allowed free expression? What’s approved of for anyone one day might be on the removal list tomorrow.

Any automaton can spew the “party line.” What happened to critical thinking, to skepticism? What happened to the free flow of ideas and healthy debate? Why should anyone have to fear persecution for expressing viewpoints on public matters? What kind of society are we becoming?

Ref:
[1] Nazi Book Burning posted by United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 5-13-13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzM1gXaiVo 9:41
Quote from the video:
“All literature is dangerous to a regime that fears the free flow of ideas because the literature in its most fundamental way is meant to forge connections among human beings.”

[2] Bannings and Burnings in History
http://www.freedomtoread.ca/links-and-resources/bannings-and-burnings-in-history/#.W4mAXygQhsi

[3] The Memory Hole (1984) posted by Jonathan Lippe 9-20-14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4JSFSwf-og 1:42

[4] FIRST AMENDMENT
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Please see the following links for additional information:

Google and the World Brain – trailer English - Polar Star Films 12-21-12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxIveocxjM 2:03
Polar Star Films
http://www.worldbrainthefilm.com/

Corporate Giant Demands Crackdown on Independent Alternative Internet Content, Call for Online Censorship by Will Morrow 2-14-18
https://www.globalresearch.ca/corporate-giant-demands-crackdown-on-independent-and-alternative-internet-content-call-for-online-censorship/5629352

Guns and Butter Banned and Removed from KPFA Radio – 8-16-18
http://gunsandbutter.org/blog/2018/08/16/guns-and-butter-banned-and-removed-from-kpfa-radio

The War on the 1st Amendment Goes Nuclear posted by churchdog42 8-16-18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OrbhLcWdCE 38:33

tampa911truth.wordpress.com was removed from the internet.
https://tampa911truth.wordpress.com/author/willyloman/
Message now on former website’s homepage:
tampa911truth.wordpress.com is no longer available.

The Great Deplatforming, or How Hate Speech Ate Free Speech by Helen Buyniski 8-18-18
http://helenofdestroy.com/index.php/39-the-great-deplatforming-or-how-hate-speech-ate-free-speech
“The Deep State knows it can’t openly strip citizens of their First Amendment rights just yet, so Big Tech is deployed to do their dirty work.”

Bill Maher Blasts Liberals over Alex Jones Censorship ‘Supposed to Be for Free Speech’ posted by Nonpartisan Media 8-18-18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwoQUjRo-fU 6:45

KPFA Shuts Down Guns and Butter posted by churchdog42 8-22-18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdC5wRZKB-4 24:59
“This just breaks my heart. Guns and Butter is a great program and has been since 2001. Thank you Vic [Sadot] for the heads up.” – Scott Creighton

Vic Sadot - Truth Troubadour Videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/TruthTroubadour/videos
Vic Sadot’s website
https://vicsadot.com/

The New Fascism, Same As the Old One by Ken Orphan 8-24-18
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/08/24/the-new-fascism-same-as-the-old-one/