Even those Americans who think the First Amendment goes too far

would admit that what's happening in Nepal is wrong. Human rights crisis, says Amnesty International. The Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal is once again in crisis, says Australian radio.

[Note: "Nepal is the world's only Hindu Kingdom and many people view the King as a reincarnation of the God Vishnu." So I guess that makes it OK to shut off phone and Internet service, cancel international flights, arrest political party leaders, fill the streets with armed soldiers, etc. It must be God's will...]

The pretext for the King's seizure of power is the government's lack of progress defeating Maoist [presumably pro-Chinese] rebels. So it is interesting that China praises recent Nepalese actions: China welcomes closure of Dalai Lama's offices in Nepal and China hopes Nepal to realize social security: FM

This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that's gone.

For by the life and death of Jesus,
God's mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference,
as faith and hope are born again.

--Brian Wren
This is a day of new beginnings, 1978, alt.
(1st 2 verses)

Panic about the First Amendment to the US Constitution

Another panic about the First Amendment to the United States Constitution--US teens 'reject' key freedoms (BBC News):

A significant number of US high-school students regard their constitutional right to freedom of speech as excessive, according to a new survey.

Over a third of the 100,000 students questioned felt the First Amendment went "too far" in guaranteeing freedom of speech, press, worship and assembly.

Only half felt newspapers should be allowed to publish stories that did not have the government's approval.

The survey of high school students referred to in the BBC article was conducted by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The press release reporting the survey is here. Download the complete "Future of First Amendment" Report (PDF, 456K).

So there is the usual worry about schools not doing their job, young people are ignorant and apathetic slackers, civilization is declining, things were so much better in the past...

The first thing I noticed when reading the report was this sentence:

Even in the best of times, 30 percent of Americans feel that the First Amendment, the centuries-old cornerstone of our Bill of Rights, "goes too far."

So the same proportion of high school students as the population at large believe that the First Amendment goes too far? Wow! What exciting news! I am so glad that the Knight Foundation spent $1,000,000 to find this out.

So this cartoon used to illustrate the report is misleading on two levels:
For a larger version of the cartoon, go here. 

1. Young people know as much about the First Amendment as their elders.
2. The 'Editors Note: We tried to stop this cartoonist from making you look uninformed...But that's his First Amendment right.' is making a fallacious point. Newspaper and magazine editors routinely stop writers, cartoonists, and photographers from saying what they want to say. Every few months, for example, there are reports about newspapers refusing to run certain Doonesbury comics because they disagree with Gary Trudeau's politics. And that doesn't count the hundreds of newspapers that do not carry Doonesbury at all. So let's not pretend that newspapers, magazines, radio and television programs, etc. exist in a First Amendment utopia where free expression is the highest ideal.

As a public service, Ghost Town Orange brings you the First Amendment to the United States Constitution:

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.

This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that's gone.

For by the life and death of Jesus,
God's mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference,
as faith and hope are born again.

--Brian Wren
This is a day of new beginnings, 1978, alt.
(1st 2 verses)

More reason to doubt any good news from Iraq (is there any?)

A gaggle of Republican political appointees staff the Office of Strategic Communications (in Baghdad. Apparently they view their job as making sure President Bush is re-elected. Recent press releases from the propagandists include:

Bremer, Barzani Regret Badran's Resignation; Thank Him for Excellent Service

Scrap Metal Export Licensing Procedure

Iraqi Olympic Hopefuls Arrive in Colorado to Begin Training

Optimists Club Organizes Baghdad Chapter

Beautification Plan for Baghdad Ready to Begin

The Reality is Nothing Like What You See on Television

Here's a piece of the AP story:

The U.S. team stands in deep contrast to the British team that works alongside it, almost all of whom are civil or foreign service employees, not political appointees. Many of the British in Iraq display regional knowledge or language skills that most of the Americans lack.

The drive to re-elect Bush is a sensitive topic. Several coalition officials angered by what they see as CPA politicking -- with U.S. accomplishments in Iraq being trumpeted to help Bush -- grumbled privately, but would not go on record with complaints.

But Gordon Robison, a former CPA contractor who helped build the Pentagon-funded Al-Iraqiya television station in Baghdad, said Republicans in the press room intensely followed the Democratic presidential primaries as John Kerry emerged as the presumed nominee.

"Iraq is in danger of costing George W. Bush his presidency and the CPA's media staff are determined to see that does not happen," Robison said. "I had the impression in dealing with the civilians in the Green Room that they viewed their job as essentially political, promoting what the Coalition Provisional Authority is doing in Iraq as a political arm of the Bush administration," he added.

Our taxes at work. Lovely.

Their job would be so much easier if criticizing the President were a felony or at the very least a high misdemeanor:

There needs to be a law passed where any person who disrespects the "Office of the Presidency" by making false accusations and spreading deliberate rumors about the president, should be charged with a felony or at the very least a high misdemeanor.

You can read more at the link. (This web-page must be a parody--the weird photo of the author in front of the American flag, the mixed metaphors and otherwise poor writing--this can't be a real conservative, can it?) I guess Republicans no longer believe in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (when Republicans are in the White House.)

Law

Federal court decision stopping enforcement of telemarketing "No Call" list by FTC. I'll post a link to the decision when I find it. I'd guess telemarketers argue that the "No Call" list violates their First Amendment Rights.

UPDATE

I am amazed at the number of articles about this that didn't mention the name of the court involved in this case. Idiot reporters. Here's the link to the case, which I haven't read yet. On to the 10th circuit on appeal?