The Civil Right Not To Be Offended: Say It Ain't So, Tennessee

A Public Service Announcement
From the State of Tennessee

Always on Watch has an interesting post up today.  A pundit in Tennessee is claiming that Tennessee has a new law that will make it illegal to offend anyone with a photo, drawing or cartoon.  That will put Steve Benson out of business, but also Michael Ramirez and everyone else.  AOW's article says:

The specific law outlaws posting a photo online that causes "emotional distress" to someone and has no "legitimate purpose." While the law does state that there needs to be "malicious intent," it also includes a massive loophole, in that it says that you can still be liable if the person "reasonably should know" that the actions would "frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress."

Clearly, this law is an abject violation of the First Amendment for free speech, and cannot stand.  It would allow anyone to shut down another's free speech based on an individual's subjective tastes and biases.

It must be repealed immediately, or be overwhelmed with massive civil disobedience.  Let's flood Tennessee with crude drawings of Muhammad eating bacon sandwiches.  That's my entry above!  (Uh, but I didn't make it, honest.  I found it over at Crooks and Liars, I think.  Or maybe it was Democratic Underground.)

Read it all here.

Pastor Terry Jones Arrested in Michigan for Failure to Post "Peace Bond"

Pastor Terry Jones, whom I support, was arrested last week for failing to post a "peace bond" in Dearborn, Michigan.  Jones had intended to protest Islam in front of the largest mosque in America, but was prevented from doing so by the brazenly unconstitutional actions of the Dearborn Dhimmis.  This is a tale of the continuing erosion of our liberties, particularly free speech, in the face of Islamic encroachment on our soil.

Rather than regurgitate the whole sordid story, I refer you to others who have already summarized the tale quite well.  Read these at:

View From the Right:  Terry Jones, Defender of Christendom and Liberty.  Larry Auster, as I am, has been a defender and supporter of Jones from the start.  Events are proving us correct (once again).

Free Will:  Pastor Jones in the Crosshairs.  Free Will is written by a San Francisco attorney who says that he cannot believe that this persecution of Jones is constitutional.  However, be forewarned that the author is someone who feels he must denigrate Jones at the same time he is defending him.  Nevertheless, Free Will has a concise and coherent summary of the facts.