http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
I encourage the reader to read the linked article from the Washington Post before continuing this diary.
Lynndie England became the public face of US torture when pictures of her and others involved in the torture of Iraqi prisioners were publicised. She was to speak at the Library of Congress as part of a veteran's forum. Her speech was canceled because of several e-mails threatening violence at the event.
Lynndie England became the public face of US torture when pictures of her and others involved in the torture of Iraqi prisioners were publicised. She was to speak at the Library of Congress as part of a veteran's forum. Her speech was canceled because of several e-mails threatening violence at the event.
This is wrong.
No one here, myself included, condones or approves of the torture of prisoners. Lynndie England has the same right to free speech as any other American. What disturbs me most is the quote from David Moore, a Vietnam veteran.
"We can't have an event here that's going to develop into a brawl like a town hall meeting," he said. He added, "Free speech in America is pretty well dead."
Ms. Endland is no heroine for her role at Abu Ghraib. She is both a disgrace and a scapegoat. Those things will follow her for the rest of her life. That does not mean that she has lost her right to free speech.
We have watched over this long, hot summer as teabaggers, birthers and deathers have shouted down any attempt at dicourse at town halls accross the nation. We have even seen a few protesters against the President toting guns outside secutiry zones as a threatening gesture. Those that sent in the threatening e-mails against Ms. England are no better.
Is free speech in Americe dead? I don't think so. Not yet.
But it's definitely threatened.