Volos said:
[/color][/b]And you can thank the ACLU for your right to say that.
::: quietly applauds
Volos :::
Gunny, I presume that your opinion of American freedoms is not limited to "the right to agree with you." And I know full well that you've taken an oath to defend the Constitution. I'm certainly aware that some of the stances the ACLU have taken in support of First Amendment freedoms go against things that are strongly meaningful to you, and others I would guess you don't see the point behind (that's speculation, but it's based on things you have said). There are a few ACLU stances that I disagree with -- things that I consider protected by "fair exercise" with government role not such as to call the establishment clause into play. But in general, I think they're doing precisely the job they set out to do. (Note to
JSN: Yes, among the approximately 20 founding members there were (as I recall)
two idealistic Communists, who IIRC quit the Communist Party when they saw what it was really up to. I
could say that this is "typical conservative behavior" -- slinging mud to cast aspersions on a large group for the offenses of a few. But I've known a few thoughtful and decent conservatives, and I am tentatively inclined to include you in that group. I'd welcome seeing you check into that on an
unbiased website and modify the comment to match the truth.
The point I'd like to make,
Gunny, is that the old American conception of
fairness comes into play here. Their view is that our freedoms are precious enough to fight for even when the issue is one no decent person would want to be associated with. Take the NAMBLA case. I suspect the entire membership here would endorse the statement "NAMBLA members are sociopathic creeps that had better never come near a boy I know, if they want to survive." But notwithstanding that, the same freedom of speech that permits you and me to say what we think without fear of government reprisal, guarantees them the right to promote their perverted views. So when they were faced with a regulation restricting their freedom to express their views, disgusting as they are, the ACLU defended their freedom. Because what bans them today, bans someone else tomorrow, yet another group the day after, and eventually will be used to gag you and me.
