Karlysymon
Superstar
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2017
- Messages
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In May 2003, Brown University professor William Beeman drew attention to [Micheal] Ledeen’s clout, writing: “Most Americans have never heard of Michael Ledeen, but if the United States ends up in an extended shooting war throughout the Middle East, it will be largely due to his inspiration.
We’ll soon be entering the 3rd decade since 9/11 and a lot of things are fading from memory. I thought it would be worth revisiting the subject of censorship, (both before and during the Iraq war) of opposition to the invasion and the questioning of constitutional violations. I will list my two opening examples but first; with the benefit of retrospect or the passage of time, information has trickled out on why the invasion was launched in the first place. Bush advisor, Philip Zelikow stated that it was launched to protect Israel. And he wasn’t the only one. Serveto originally posted this:
So, if the invasion was primarily launched on those grounds and there was intense stifling of opposition/criticism, shouldn’t the recent developments where criticism of Israel or anything Jewish is being labeled as anti-semitic or even made illegal, provoke further scrutiny, as to why they are happening in the first place?
But back to the early 2000s, it begs the question; those enforcing the censorship, to whom were they beholden or were they just being “patriotic” out of ignorance? And what did that censorship betray about American democracy or the era that the country had just entered?
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[Now deceased] Professor Walter F Murphy is emeritus of Princeton University; he is one of the foremost constitutional scholars in the nation and author of the classic Constitutional Democracy. Murphy is also a decorated former marine, and he is not even especially politically liberal. But on March 1 this year (2007), he was denied a boarding pass at Newark, "because I was on the Terrorist Watch list".
"Have you been in any peace marches? We ban a lot of people from flying because of that," asked the airline employee.
"I explained," said Murphy, "that I had not so marched but had, in September 2006, given a lecture at Princeton, televised and put on the web, highly critical of George Bush for his many violations of the constitution."
"That'll do it," the man said.
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The Dixie Chicks
Controversy erupted over the Dixie Chicks in 2003 following a critical comment vocalist Natalie Maines made about American President George W. Bush while performing in a concert in London, United Kingdom. In relation to the forthcoming invasion of Iraq, Maines said, "...we don't want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." (Wikipedia entry for the song)
Numerous US radio stations removed the group from their playlists. "In my book the Dixie Chicks are traitors," one columnist wrote at the time. "Not only to America but also to everything good that country music stands for."
Dixie Chicks turn death threats to song
We’ll soon be entering the 3rd decade since 9/11 and a lot of things are fading from memory. I thought it would be worth revisiting the subject of censorship, (both before and during the Iraq war) of opposition to the invasion and the questioning of constitutional violations. I will list my two opening examples but first; with the benefit of retrospect or the passage of time, information has trickled out on why the invasion was launched in the first place. Bush advisor, Philip Zelikow stated that it was launched to protect Israel. And he wasn’t the only one. Serveto originally posted this:
So, if the invasion was primarily launched on those grounds and there was intense stifling of opposition/criticism, shouldn’t the recent developments where criticism of Israel or anything Jewish is being labeled as anti-semitic or even made illegal, provoke further scrutiny, as to why they are happening in the first place?
But back to the early 2000s, it begs the question; those enforcing the censorship, to whom were they beholden or were they just being “patriotic” out of ignorance? And what did that censorship betray about American democracy or the era that the country had just entered?
*************
[Now deceased] Professor Walter F Murphy is emeritus of Princeton University; he is one of the foremost constitutional scholars in the nation and author of the classic Constitutional Democracy. Murphy is also a decorated former marine, and he is not even especially politically liberal. But on March 1 this year (2007), he was denied a boarding pass at Newark, "because I was on the Terrorist Watch list".
"Have you been in any peace marches? We ban a lot of people from flying because of that," asked the airline employee.
"I explained," said Murphy, "that I had not so marched but had, in September 2006, given a lecture at Princeton, televised and put on the web, highly critical of George Bush for his many violations of the constitution."
"That'll do it," the man said.
----------------------------------------------
The Dixie Chicks
Numerous US radio stations removed the group from their playlists. "In my book the Dixie Chicks are traitors," one columnist wrote at the time. "Not only to America but also to everything good that country music stands for."
Dixie Chicks turn death threats to song
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