Can we worry about something that ACTUALLY MATTERS, please?
As you may or may not have seen, the Senate once again had a vote on whether or not to create a constitutional amendment that bans the burning of the American flag. It was a mere one vote shy of getting the two-thirds majority it needed to pass (after which it would be sent to the states to approve). My question is - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
No, seriously, they want to amend our constitution, the basis of our entire country's government, with a law that says we can't burn a piece of fabric? Really? I just can't even believe it. They wasted two days on the Senate floor arguing about it. This is not just a law, but a constitutional amendment.
And it is apparently really a problem our country is just dying to fix, I read in that article I linked to that 75% of states would have approved the amendment if it had made it past the Senate. Why? Why ban a form of expression that harms no one, and not just ban it, but mess around with the constitution to do it?
Supporters say it should be banned because it is disrespectful to those who died for our country to burn the flag they were serving to protect. My brother died in service to this country. He had an American flag draped over his casket. I don't feel that it dishonors him in the least to continue to allow this kind of freedom of expression - because that's what it is. A form of expression. It shows disgust with what the flag symbolizes, but that's just it - it's ONLY a symbol. That's WHY it's OK to burn it - would you rather dissenters went after what that symbol represents? I think giving them an outlet that doesn't physically harm other people is far preferable!
Plain and simple, our government does not have the right to take our forms of expression from us. I'm sick of this kind of crap. Don't we have bigger fish to fry, like wars all over the cotton-pickin place? Quit with the pandering and posturing and get some real work done. Or, here's an idea, take a break and quit messing with stuff and making it worse! G.D. government. Ugh.
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Why would the politicians in power want people to independentally analyze and think about real issues?
I think what our friend Oscar is trying to say is, "FNORD!"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnord
Here's something that actually matters: the Senate also voted today (in committee) to basically hand the Internet over to the telecom companies.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6089197.html
So barring a miracle, soon you'll have the exciting freedom to visit only the Web sites that have paid off your Internet provider.
Grrr.
amen, sister.
Washington Post's Metro Express did a poll yesterday asking people if there should be an amendment banning flag burning. 84% of readers who responded said no. So I don't know where these idiots are saying they have 75% support - here in the DC area, it's only 16%.
speaking of metro express . . . did you see page 2 this morning? The mini Zamboni.
I did! I think it's called the "Bambini" if I remember correctly.
Jason says "So barring a miracle, soon you'll have the exciting freedom to visit only the Web sites that have paid off your Internet provider."
Wouldn't this motivate you to switch ISPs to someone who wouldn't do this?
"Wouldn't this motivate you to switch ISPs to someone who wouldn't do this?"
Maybe, if I had the option. Take a look at the list of member companies of whol"NetCompetition.org" (an anti-neutrality lobbying group):
http://www.netcompetition.org/docs/about/#members
* American Cable Association
* National Cable and Telecommunications Association
* US Telecom Association
* AT&T
* BellSouth
* Cingular
* Comcast
* Qwest
* Time Warner Cable
* Verizon
That's a pretty big chunk of the ISP marketplace right there. Remember, lots of "independent" ISPs just resell service from one or more of the above groups. Take Yahoo's DSL offering, for example; it's just rebadged service from Verizon.
And oh yeah, hey Ginger & Mindy, I got your Bambini right here:
http://www.jasonlefkowitz.net/images/bambini.png