Letters to the Editor

• A for effort...

  [Read the article: Salon's new letters registration policy]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  ...as pretty much an absolutist on the issue of free speech, i can't find too much to complain about regarding the minimal registration requirements, etc...

  it appears the main 'offense' against salon/saloonists, is that 'you' (editorial or personal ? ) will censor only those posts which are 'threatening' in extremis, or 'murderous' in intent...

  while that is a pretty low bar, one wonders -theoretical-like, mind you- that if one were to speculate on the demise of richard simmons, if he were to -say- fall into a biomedical dumpster full of liposuctioned fat and drown...

  um, is that a death threat ?

  i *guess* *technically* you could say so, if you were so inclined... or you might see it for the obvious farce it is...

  but still...

  NOW, this leaves untested and unaddressed the much more important issue of quasi-public discourse in the semi-private public commons...

  not only on thisy here l'il ole virtual venture, but the cases of malls, downtown areas, and other public gathering locales, increasingly kontrolled (*sigh* does he/she *have* to do that 'k' bullshit... *snort* yes, he/she *does*...) by korporations, or korporate mercenary kops acting on behalf of the state...

  *besides* the sheeple's complacency in accepting ABSURD and UNCONSTITUTIONAL restrictions, 'free speech zones' (are you fucking kidding me ? ? ? can you GET any more orwellian than that ! ! !), and the like while on public property; Public Citzens are confronted by the prospect that there *ARE* NO free speech rights in 90% of the 'public commons', because they are all 'privately' owned/leased or otherwise policed by korporate interests, *NOT* public interests...

  true, real, proud, American Free Speech does not wait for a time and place of The State's choosing; mature, serious, non-trivial Free Speech does not concern itself with mere profanity and other childish diversions...

  Free Speech isn't to be diluted or adulterated for the lowest common denominator of the faint-hearted, mock-shocked, and pseudo-devine set; children have to grow up *sometime*...

  Free Speech -especially in the mainstream media- *should* be the most precious and fundamental of our rights as citizens and owner-operators of 'our' (sic) democrazy...

  ...instead, it has become debased by triteness, horserace mentality, and -24/7/365- the best infotainment money can pimp...

  turn that ipod up, sheeple...

  baa baa baa

  art guerrilla

  aka ann archy

  eof

  Permalink Friday, April 6, 2007 03:41 AM