Free Speech Blog

Malawi working for Zimbabwe

2008-04-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

"Malawi government has sent a top three man national intelligence experts to Angola to look at ways of helping Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe clear the weapons aboard the beleaguered Chinese ship that has docked in Luanda, Angola, Nyasa Times has learnt." This is from a local newspaper in Malawi (Article from Nyasa Times).

Supposedly the team from Malawi has gone to South Africa with the intention of trying to clear the weapons so it looks like they have been donated to Malawi by China. The article claims that Zimbabwe approached Malawi to clear the arms if they could get the ship to dock in Angola.

"China and Zimbabwe want to clear the weapons as a donation to Malawi under recently signed US$4 million China-Malawi defence cooperation. The weapons are further to be smuggled into Zimbabwe. The plan is to clear the arms as if they are to be used by Malawi while in real sense they will be passed over to Zimbabwe using trucks ferrying maize being sold to Zimbabwe by the president," added the source."

The source for the article is supposed to be someone in Malawi's government who spoke under secrecy. I cannot believe something like this is being published. I was really surprised. Its like DUH if this gets out and Zimbabwe ends up with the weapons it will be obvious how he got them!

CHINA...What are you doing??

2008-04-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

China recently sent out a ship full 'o weapons bound for Zimbabwe. Right in the middle of the disputed election results...fishy. Mugabe has been accused of torturing citizens believed to have voted for the opposition party leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The last thing he needs is a ship load of ammunition. China's foreign ministry spokes person says, "The consignment was "part of the normal arms trade between China and Zimbabwe," she said. "The relevant contract was signed last year and has nothing to do with the latest developments inside Zimbabwe." China claims the arms deal is just an ordinary business deal, but it comes at a very odd time...When Mugabe is trying desperately to hang onto power. Also, I would think that the last thing China would want to do would be arm ANOTHER African country. They are already receiving enough negative attention for the violent suppression of protests in Tibet, and their monetary involvement in the conflict in Darfur. China...What are you doing? Luckily dock workers in South Africa refused to unload the ship, and other countries ports have turned the ship away. "The weapons were scheduled to be offloaded at the South African port of Durban and transported overland to landlocked Zimbabwe. However, a Durban court prohibited the shipment from being landed, and dockers said they would refuse to handle it." (From article on allAfrica.com) It is now being reported that the ship is being sent back to China without being unloaded.

Zimbabwe Elections

2008-04-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'm sure everyone has heard, well I hope at least, about the disputed elections in Zimbabwe. Current President Robert Mugabe has seemingly lost the popular vote at the recent election, but he is trying to hold onto power. Recently, the state run newspaper, The Herald, ran an editorial urging a government of natinal unity that would be run by both Mugabe and the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. I do not think this is a good idea. The election recount results that have been released point to Tsvangirai as the winner. Mugabe needs to step down and release power, not try to hold onto it through violent means. I last thing Africa needs is another civil war and more violence. He should realize that his stepping down is the best thing for the country and for the continent...to show people that a democratic election can be held and a winner announced without violence.

Boycottong Olympics

2008-04-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

The Chief of the United States Olympic Committee said that the US would only boycott the Olympics if the safety of the athletes was in question. Which I think is a good thing! Here is the Article. The article does not go into the opening ceremonies, but the President has made it clear that he is going to the Olympics, which I find really frustrating. I think we have a great opportunity to stand up for human rights and the President won't take it. UH.

Jane Olsen

2008-04-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

Today I went to a talk given by Jane Olsen who is the Chair of the Human Rights Watch board of directors. She spoke to us mainly about her experience with HRW and the ongoing conflicts that they are dealing with in Africa. Some of the stories she told were truly horrific and very hard to listen to, but what I really liked about her talk was her message of hope. She shared the gruesome, but also the happy and truly touching stories, that through pain there is still compassion. She also spoke about the upcoming Olympics and how HRW is involved. She was adamant that countries not boycott the Olympics, she stated that the Olympics are good for the international community and for international relations. However, HRW's position is that heads of state should not attend the Opening ceremonies. China has invited many heads of state from around the world to showcase China's coming of age, and by not attending the heads of state could show China that they do not approve of their politics. I think this is the best position to take because it does not harm the athletes or the games.
Here is a Letter from UNHCR to Heads of State urging them not to attend the opening ceremonies.

Semi-Corny Chain Email

2008-04-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

So, My mom just sent me this forwarded email, and I wanted to share it. I appreciated the message and I hope people can take it for what it is, the bottom line is to be thankful for what we have...we are all very lucky...

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF
LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

Olympic Torch

2008-04-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

When I saw the news video of the protests in London and Paris of the Olympic Torch, all I could do was shake my head. People were arrested in both cities for starting violence while the torch was passing through, and at one point the torch had to be extinguished and bused away. People, violence is not the answer to violence! That is totally the wrong message to be sending. I was all in favor of people peacefully protesting the torch's route, but by trying to sabotage it the protesters sent the wrong message, and I think disgraced what the Free Tibet movement is about. Today the torch made its way through San Francisco, and prior to the run, one torch carrier had dropped out for security concerns. The city had to change the route locations and trick the protesters so they would not know where the torch was, (See AP article.) This really upset some people who had come out to see the historic torch go through their city, "That upsets me," Dummer said. "My back hurts from standing around on this lumpy sidewalk. ... This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and other people messed it up by protesting." (AP) I wish the well meaning protesters would have thought twice about their intentions for protesting the torch, and would have decided that peace is the best and only answer to violence.

Tibet

2008-04-04T15:10:00.001-07:00

I wanted to take a minute to write about whats been going on in Tibet, where many things, not just freedom of speech are being denied to Tibetans. I have been reading China's government controlled newspaper online, People's Daily Online, to see what they are writing about Tibet. It is so interesting to compare the different news about the country. China's newspaper continually publishes stories urging people to see the true nature of the Dalai Lama and blaming him for the violence that is going on in Tibet. Recently China is upset with Nancy Pelosi for saying, "I believe that the International Olympic Committee made a mistake in awarding the 2008 Summer Games to China." (People's Daily article) The Chinese government is urging countries to respect the games, but how can they when there are so many human rights violations going on in Tibet, Sudan and Darfur. I think it is a mistake to award China the Olympic games, because it is like condoning their activities in other countries. I think more countries should boycott the opening cermony of the games to show China that what they are doing is not ok, and not condoned by the international community.

Obama's Preacher...

2008-03-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Brave sacrifice by Americans ensure Wright’s free speech

(From TheTennessean)

To the Editor:

It is my belief all Americans owe a debt of gratitude to Barack Obama’s pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Some of what he said was true. Some of what he said was false. Some of what he said was totally absurd. President Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs in order to save hundreds of thousands of American lives and to bring an end to World War II was the right thing to do.

The sacrifices made by Americans for their country and for millions around the world were without doubt one of the noblest acts in mankind’s history.

For Mr. Wright to say the horrific death of thousands on 9/11 is America’s “chickens coming home to roost” for Hiroshima and Nagasaki is so reprehensible that I don’t have sufficient vocabulary to describe it. So, you ask, why are we in debt to Mr. Wright?

It is very simple. Once federal government officials heard of his remarks, they took the appropriate action. They did absolutely nothing. Is this a great country or what?

The very government against which Mr. Wright launched his vicious verbal volley is the very same government that is dedicated to protecting his constitutional right to free speech. God bless America.

Stan Anderson, Smyrna 37167

I thought this letter to the editor from The Tennessean newspaper interesting in the wake of all the controversy surrounding Obama's Pastor Rev. Wright. I liked that the author brought up the issue of free speech. Personally, I don't think the views or opinions expressed by Obama's Pastor should reflect directly onto Obama. It is quite a stretch to say that since his Pastor said it, then it is what he thinks too. I mean, I go to church and I don't think that the opinions of my priest reflect directly onto me; we probably disagree on many things.

But the point of the article was to praise the government for doing nothing, which I think is important. I may not agree with what Rev. Wright was saying, but I think we are lucky to live in a country where we are allowed to express our opinions without fear of repercussions. Obama, on the other hand, better watch out who he hangs around with, because unfortunately with politics today something like this could have a very negative impact on his campaign.

Cal State system revises conduct code to settle free-speech suit

2008-03-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

Students in San Francisco States college Republicans club sued the CSU system for a part of the handbook that they said violated their free speech. "The lawsuit challenged provisions in the conduct code that the College Republicans said could potentially punish students for speech protected by the First Amendment." (Article from Student Press Law Center) The conduct code states that students have to "be civil to one another." The school had been investigating the club for being in violation of the conduct code after an anti-terrorism rally where the students stomped on Islamic flags. After the lawsuit was filed the CSU board of trustees made the decision to change the code so that it was clear that students could not face disciplinary charges for not following the 'civil code' or for speech. '"I definitely think it's a positive step for free speech on campus and in the CSU system," said Leigh Wolf, former president of College Republicans and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit."' The plaintiffs of the lawsuit received $300 in damages and SF State will be paying their attorney fees. Well if you want to be really nit-picky about free speech...I think this was kind of a silly lawsuit, but I am glad the the students one in the end, and I can rest easy that free speech is being protected on CSU campuses!

Homophobia

2008-03-05T14:37:00.001-08:00

After reading Chapter 9 in "Outspoken," I started thinking about what I had been taught in high school about the LGBT community, and I realized it was not much. I did go to a Catholic high school, and so the extent of our learning about homosexuality was that it was OK to be gay, as long as you did not act on your feelings.

When I was a senior, I went to an all girls school, some senior girls asked administration if they could go to the Homecoming dance as a group, with their other friends who did not have dates, since it would be their last Homecoming dance. The admin. quickly said no way, because they felt it condoned homosexual relationships. Well, it turned into a BIG to do. The girls argued that they just wanted to go to the dance to have fun, it had nothing to do with homosexuality. However, some girls were really offended, they thought the school was discriminating based on sexual orientation. After a series of meetings and petitions signed, the girls were allowed to go to the dance, as a group, as friends. But what I didn't realize at the time was how this was really homophobia. It was present in my school, and I didn't even know it.

Seminar today really got me thinking about how to combat homophobia, and not foster it in kids by being afraid to teach them about it. My seminar talked about when it was appropriate to teach about it, and how. But I think the issue is not when or how to teach about it, I think it just needs to be included, as a way to normalize it. Like starting at a young age, talking about different families, some have two Dads maybe, that way it would just be seen as a type of family. I think talking about it, not teaching about it, would be the best way to help kids to see that it is not bad or strange, it is in fact normal.

Porn as Free Speech?

2008-03-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

But is it Free Speech?

So today in my gender communication class, there was a group presentation about the portrayal of gender in pornography. The group talked about some people who believe that porn is so disrespectful that is should go away. They mentioned that some think that porn should not be included as free speech. So since they were talking about free speech, I looked up the section in our text book and found some interesting quotes.
Author and Law Professor Mari Matsuda, "We need to get away from male-centered notions of free speech. We should say that pornography, sexual harassment, racist speech, gay-bashing, anti-Semitic speech-speech that assults and excludes-is not the same as forms of speech deserving protection. Why is it that pornography, which undermines women's equality, is singled out for absolute protection?"
I think this is an interesting position, something that I have not really considered. Should porn be included as free speech? And is that saying that porn is just as bad as racist speech and gay-bashing? Wow.
Gloria Steinem, "Why can feminists speak against everything from wars and presidents to tobacco companies, yet if we use our free speech against pornography, we are accused, in Orwellian fashion, of being against free speech?"
So like I said, I never really considered porn as an expression of free speech. I guess I have always thought that if women are willing to do it, then that is their choice. But now I think I see porn in a new light, and maybe Matsuda is right, and it is just as bad as hate speech, and should not be protected.

Bill Cunningham thrown under the bus

2008-03-01T17:24:00.000-08:00

Introducing John McCain in a recent rally, radio talk show host Bill Cunningham made some jokes about McCain's opponents Clinton and Obama...naturally, but McCain was not happy. After the rally he apologized for the remarks that were made, namely the repetition of Obama's middle name. Now Cunningham is pissed and feels like he was thrown under the bus. Well, this article about the incident caught my attention because it mentions free speech! Yay! McCain says,
"I don't intend in any way to tell talk-show hosts or anyone else in America what they should say or not say. This is a country that people believe in free speech," McCain said. "The reason why I had to repudiate that was because it was a campaign event associated with my campaign." (CNN article)
Not really the most controversial free speech issue, but I think a big issue is the use of Obama's middle name as a means to somehow associate him with a terrorist. What? Since when did someone's middle name make them a terrorist?

Free Speech after 9/11

2008-02-25T12:24:00.001-08:00

I am taking a Global Studies class about the United States and the third world, we are reading a book called Tourists of History, the author claims that the American people do not see themselves connected to or apart of our history. For example, we only see the tragedy in history, like with 9/11, we don't see the events or actions of our government that would have caused such an attack. One of the chapters I just read was about the media response to 9/11, and how speech was 'censored' because everyone was being extra cautious not to offend or bring up memories of the attack. Companies pulled ads that had anything to do with crashing or attacks, TV shows or movies that had images of the twin towers were not shown, or postponed. The country was in shock, and the media seemed to be censoring their speech so as not to offend. I think this is interesting int he context of free speech, because it was like censorship, but it was not imposed, it was willingly done out of respect.

Segregation 'free speech threat'

2008-02-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

"Further education colleges are being warned that "segregated communities" on campuses can cause conflict and stifle free speech."
I was looking for a blog topic so I Googled free speech in Google news, an article came up on BBC news about colleges that are worried about extremist groups on campus. The article says that schools of higher education may be a risk of "serious but not widespread" threat from "Al-Qaeda-influenced terrorism". A consultation paper warns that segregated communities, like extremist groups, can be dangerous to the college community.

"Attitudes and beliefs may be reinforced so that there is little opportunity for dissent, free-thinking or the dilution of commonly held preconceptions about issues within the segregated community or wider communities."

The fear is that extremist groups will form and take hold of students not allowing them to speak up for themselves or disagree. I think this is pretty silly. I understand the fear of Al-Qaeda influenced group son campus, but I don't think it would be right to restrict the formation of campus groups out of fear of terrorism.

"The focus on colleges is part of an assessment of how extremists gather recruits - with the belief that they target young people in "prison, youth clubs, schools, universities and further education colleges".

"The consultation, The Role of Further Education Providers in Promoting Community Cohesion, Fostering Shared Values and Preventing Violent Extremism, suggests that colleges should be promoting free speech, emphasizing shared values, discouraging segregation and stopping bullying and intimidation."

2008-02-06T22:23:00.000-08:00

Today in class we seminar-ed about the readings. My group had a bit of a rough time getting the conversation started, we began be talking about the questions that one of the readings posed. Once we started talking about the questions, we got onto the topic of what to restrict as free speech. We each had some ideas about what we thought should be restricted, but then we all thought that once that one thing was restricted, what was to stop restricting something else. We decided that it was a slippery slope, it would be hard to just say that this one thing was restricted without being easily able to add onto the list.

First Real Post

2008-02-01T15:03:00.000-08:00

First blog about free speech...
I was watching the Colbert Report last night and I noticed that the guest was talking about the first amendment and free speech. The guest, I forget his name, was a judge who had written a book, called "A Nation of Sheep" about how the American people behave like sheep in a flock. He thinks the government is over steeping their bounds and going against the first amendment. He argued that they are taking away our right to free speech by criminalizing things that people are saying. I thought this was interesting seeing as I am beginning this class on free speech! I have a feeling I will be paying more attention to issues of free speech that I might not have noticed before taking this class.

First Blog!

2008-01-30T18:10:00.000-08:00

First blog...blog..blog