When Free Speech is under attack...

... by it's supposed defenders, it just gets stuck in my craw!

Leftists fancy themselves the protectors of free speech--often comparing themselves favorably against conservatives who often wish to censor books, music, video games, and any other source of potentially ideological content that exists in the marketplace. However, environmentalist leftists have recently shown unity with conservatives on an issue of great importance: just as the conservatives are at root against science (consider George Bush's recent veto regarding stem cell research, not to mention the attempts to put religionist-creationist-magic-man-in-the-sky "theories" on par with natural selection), and now several major environmentalist groups are joining with the State of California to "force auto makers to disclose all documents and communications between the companies and the so-called 'climate-skeptics'"

The context of this request filed in federal court is a case in which auto makers are "challenging the state's greenhouse gas emissions limits for new cars." Apparently California believes that climate skeptics play a "major role in spreading disinformation about global warming." Notice that California is not seeking communications between auto-makers and any outside interested party regardless of their stand on global warming--they are singling out a group of people based on a position they take on a controversial issue.

"Free speech" to California and the Sierra Club seems to mean the right only to agree with them on issues of ecology. This motion is only a first step toward establishing a legal precedent for illegalizing "the spread of disinformation"--by which is meant the spreading of any information that amounts to disagreement with the currently entrenched State. Ironic that a movement born of fighting against the Establishment has now become the Establishment; Ironic that a movement claiming the right to speak the truth in opposition to the Party Line now wishes to deprive others of the same right.

I grant that California is not (yet) seeking to penalize or otherwise criminally charge the "climate skeptics"--but one should always take note when the state begins segregating people by their ideas. The fact that California has listed certain very prominent syndicated columnists is scary enough.

I predict that it won't be long before someone invents some new buzzword indicating an emotionally pleasing (to some) but still invalid exemption to the First Amendment. There's already precedent for it on the subject of "Hate Speech." If the eco-terrorists have their way, it will soon become a crime to hurt the "feelings" of the earth-minded just as it is now a crime to hurt the feelings of minority groups. Note too that "Hate Speech" laws are most commonly favored by leftists.

Any takers on what the new buzzword will be? There are rules about this you know--buzzwords have to be easy to say, so "Industrial Speech" is right out. They also have to disguise the thing they're hiding, so "Speech that doesn't agree with eco-terrorists" and "Anti-Green" speech is right out also. Maybe something like "Dangerous Speech"--no, that's too long. But we could shorten it--"Danger Speech?" Maybe it could be done in two stages. Maybe there could first be a campaign against "anthropomorphic values" and then when "anthropomorhpic" is part of the mainstream political vocabulary, the new buzzword could be "Anthro Speech." Nah, sounds too complicated. It's there... somewhere. Some whacko will find it.

I'm not sure--these things are hard to predict. What's not hard to predict is that the assault on the First Amendment will continue from both liberals and conservatives, and that those of use that know what free speech is must stand against them all. Men have only two ways of dealing with one another--persuasion, and force. The First Amendment protects our right to persuade. When it falls, there will be no other way to change things but violence.

So, if you care about the integrity of your own mind, "SPEAK NOW OR YOU WILL FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE!"