Twitter Misunderstands Rights and Privileges

The people who run Twitter are asking for permission to exercise their right to free speech.

This all stems from government spying programs targeting users of the social media platform.  In response Twitter wants to inform the public of the extent of the dragnet on their website.

Unfortunately the lawyers at Twitter are displaying a misunderstanding of "rights" and "privileges".  This is peculiar because humans don't need permission to exercise rights, especially those laid out in the Bill of Rights.

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.

Link to AP story

White House People Harassing Journalist

James Risen is the target of White House People

The White House People are upset that New York Times journalist James Risen exercised his right to free speech.  As reported by Alex Park in Mother Jones:

In State of War, Risen revealed a secret CIA operation, code-named Merlin, that was intended to undermine the Iranian nuclear program.  The plan...was to pass flawed plans for a trigger system for a nuclear weapon to Iran in the hopes of derailing the country's nuclear program. 

Anti-War Speech is Officially Censored in U.S.

Susan Rice with the President of Israel, Shimon Peres

It turns out that there is "Officially" Censored Speech in the U.S.  Phrases that should not be broadcast include:

"Stop the bombing, stop the killing".

Watch as U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice restricts freedom of speech in D.C...  

Video clip here.

Albuquerque Claims There is No Right to Assembly

Two-dozen taxpayers in Albuquerque, NM organized a protest last night in response to recent police brutality. The Guardian reports that 25 people have been shot dead by police in the southwestern U.S. city since 2010.

Thirteen of the taxpayers were arrested at the mayor's office and charged with "unlawful assembly" and "trespassing".    

The arresting officers made clear that they must grant their subjects the "privilege" to assemble.  In Albuquerque there is no "right" to assemble.  

       

The Speech Police in Pakistan and the U.S.

It's been nearly two years since the state of Pakistan banned it's subjects from visiting YouTube.  Finally the tide against the statute is gaining enough steam that lifting of the ban is now likely.

The PTA's Vision

Censorship is often the result of the people calling themselves "the state" feeling their authority being threatened.  Fortunately for them state run monopolies like the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority or the Federal Communications Commission provide the tools to prevent communication among it's subjects.

In these United States just five people claim to be the speech police.  These five people believe:

Obscene material is not protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution and cannot be broadcast at any time.

Regardless of the location or medium, should five human beings have the monopoly privilege to prevent 318,000,000 from sharing & accessing information?

Human Rights for Some of Us

A man was convicted in Saudi Arabia for committing the crime of "insulting Islam".  The Saudi court sentenced him to ten years in prison plus 1,000 lashes.  This is what hosting a website about religion will get you when you live under a totalitarian regime.

Have you heard outrage from the west about this violent crackdown on freedom of speech?

Harry Truman with Crown Prince Saud (1947)

In case you weren't aware the U.S. has been selling weapons of mass murder to Saudi King's for six decades.      

Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon with King Saud (1957)

The shipment of weapons from the U.S. to the House of Saud continues to this day.  Textron Inc. is in the process of filling an order for 1,300 cluster bombs to be sent to the Islamic regime by next year.  

In short, the relationship between the owners of the U.S. and the owners of Saudi Arabia is very profitable for them.  If people start spreading ideas that question the Islamic regime the lashing will begin.

Don't expect a feel-good ad campaign to come out of the west about protecting free speech in the mid-east kingdom.  They couldn't care less about "democracy", "freedom" or "human rights" when it comes to the 20,000,000 citizens of Saudi Arabia.