An Open Letter To "Democracy Now" Regarding Treason
It is okay to criticize the President and American policies, but it is not okay to advocate military defeat of US forces.
(PRWEB) January 3, 2004 --
For reference: http://democracynow.org
Dear Amy Goodman,
I subscribe to "Democracy Now" online, and I have been a consistent and stubborn opponent of Bush's illegal, immoral, based-on-deceit war of naked aggression against Iraq.
However, it was with great sorrow that I heard this morning on your show an interview with a person who clearly supported the Iraqi resistance and who expressed his belief that the defeat of US forces in Iraq would be a good thing for world peace.
Yes, it was his Constitutional right to express these thoughts, and it was your Constitutional right to air them. The Government cannot legally prevent you from saying anything. But it can punish you, afterwards, for saying certain things. It cannot prevent you from slandering someone, for instance. But the person slandered can sue you in a Government court and win. Likewise, if you air treasonous speech, you expose yourself to prosecution for treason. Your right of free speech does not confer the right to not be punished afterward for what you say, if it is
sufficiently harmful or sufficiently illegal.
In my opinion, the interview this morning was treasonous because it clearly supported the Iraqi resistance and advocated military defeat for the USA. This is "giving aid and comfort to the enemy," in my opinion, which makes it treason.
It is okay for us to express the opinion that Bush is an idiot . . .or a monster . . . or Hitler reborn. That is not treason. It is okay for us to express our beliefs that the war was based on deception, in a cynical and deliberate attempt to get the US military to enforce the long-time Israeli objective of removing Saddam. That is not treason. It is okay for us to say that our troops do not belong in Iraq and should be withdrawn immediately. That is not treason.
But it is not okay for us to speak in favor of a military defeat for the United States. That is treason. And your interview this morning crossed over that line which separates robust political speech from treason, in my opinion.
I will oppose Bush, oppose the war in Iraq, oppose the Israeli brutality against the Palestinians with all my strength, forever, if needed. But I will never support the idea that the US military should be defeated in anything, once it has begun.
We Americans understand Free Speech, and we cherish our Free Speech rights. But we also recognize treason when we hear it. And we cannot sit silently by when we hear it. That is why I have written this message
to you.
Many blessings to you. May the One God Who created all things be with you and your staff as you strive to make the world a better place.
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Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director
bmcgin@patriot.net
http://LoveAllPeople.org
http://AmericanDemocrat.net
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