Republican Freedom

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Thursday July 27, 2006 · 5:23 PM PDT

2006/07/27 · 17:23

Before I begin, I like to point out that I now have scientific evidence that the mere sight of President Bush on television produces a physical change in my body. I was on the bike at my gym this evening when our wretched excuse of a President appeared on Lou Dobbs. The sound was off, so luckily I did not have to hear his idiocy. Just before, I was monitoring my heart rate. It was a good 140 as I was cycling on an incline. After seeing the evil one, my heart rate spiked to 155.

But I digress.

Earlier, as I preparing to leave work for the gym, I turned on 1210 am, which carries all of the right wing propaganda here in Philadelphia. I hear Sean Hannity's faux condescending nasal excuse of a voice talking about one of his damn "Freedom" concerts. I immediately turned off the radio before my heart rate spiked to 160.

It occurred to me that Republicans love to talk about "Freedom." They love to talk about "Democracies." The President today tried to lump the current crisis in Lebanon into his grand neocon vision of bringing "democracy" to the Middle East. You see, the reason there cannot be a ceasefire or peace talks is because terrorists oppose the democracy we are trying to spread in the middle east. Nevermind that the fact if true democracy reigned in Saudi Arabia, Al Queda and other radical muslims would run the government. Nevermind if true democracy reigned in Egypt, the same result would occur. Nevermind the fact that when the terrorist group Hamas participated in Palestinian elections, they won. Nevermind the fact that the terrorist group Hezbollah is a political party in Lebanon.

But I digress again.

For all the "freedom" and "democracy" that Republicans are trying to spread overseas, why do Republicans oppose it at home?

Please tell me, what freedoms do Republicans support in America?

I do not have the freedom to criticize my government without being called unpatriotric or Un-American. I could criticize my government without such consequences before Republicans took over. Not I can't.

I do not have the freedom to dissent from my government's horrible war of choice without being called a terrorist or a traitor. I could dissent without such recriminations before Republicans took over. Now I can't.

The New York Times cannot publish certain stories about our government's violations of the Constitution without having a Republican congressman call for their collective trial and hanging. The New York Times could publish such stories before Republicans took over. Now they can't.

I no longer have the right against unreasonable searches and seizures at hands of our government. I had this right before Republicans took over. Now I don't.

I no longer have the right to make a phone call in the United States without the government being aware of it or at worst listening in. I had this right before Republicans took over. Now I don't.

If the Republicans get their way, I won't be able to have the freedom to choose how I die when faced with a terminal illness.

Republicans oppose the Supreme Court's ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut. Do you all even know what means? Well, Griswold is the precedent that recognizes a citizen's right to privacy under the Constitution and its Amendments. So, if Republicans get their way, I would have no privacy rights whatsoever. Indeed, the case of Griswold arose from a Connecticut law that forbad contraception. So, by extension, if the Republicans get their way, I will no longer have the freedom to purchase or wear condoms, and my girlfriend will not be able to be perscribed birth control pills.

Indeed, Republicans across this land are already denying our right to contraception. How many stories have we heard about pharmacists refusing to fill such perscriptions?

So before Republicans took over, we had control over our sexual and reproductive lives. Under Republican rule, we are losing that freedom.

And I say that without even getting into a woman's right to choose an abortion. But yeah, they oppose that freedom too.

Before Republicans took over, scientists had the freedom to pursue life saving stem cell research. Now they don't.

Before Republicans took over, all Americans were free to observe their various religious faiths.

Now, we all have to be subjected to their religion, an extreme, perverted and radical version of Christianity that has more in common with radical islam than it does with the teachings of Jesus Christ Himself.

If the Republicans have their way, people of all faiths would have to pray to a Christian God and our government, once forbidden by our Constition from entangling itself with or endorsing religion, may indeed have an official religion.

Republicans love to talk about freedom of religion, so long as only their religion is free.

Before Republicans took over, citizens could peaceably assemble to demonstrate and express their opinions. Now, we have 'free speech zones.'

Before Republicans took over, citizens were guaranteed the right to vote. Now, it is a struggle to get the Voting Rights Act passed. Now, we are insecure in the knowledgle that our votes are either not counted or are changed.

Tell me, exactly what freedoms are Republicans for? And tell me, what freedoms are Republicans not against?

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