OT: Free speech?

Grauzone · #1 May 21st, 2004, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dogscoff:

Of course to do that you'd need to be granted "special emergency powers" in a carefully-engineered national crisis.

I can't decide whether to draw a parallel to Attack of the Clones, Babylon 5 or modern-day USA... [/QB]

Hear ye

geoschmo · #2 June 3rd, 2004, 04:24 PM

Why should I love my country?

It is nothing but a place.

It's the place I am from.

This chair is where I am sitting, but I do not love it.

I am not free because of my country.

I am free because of the people who lived in my country before me.

They gave up their lives to gain their freedom.

Someone after them gave up their life to keep that freedom.

Now I give up my freedom to save my life.

Someday someone will give up their life to get that freedom back.

Because they are from my country.

dogscoff · #3 June 3rd, 2004, 04:38 PM

Beautifully put Geo. Did you write that yourself or were you quoting?

geoschmo · #4 June 3rd, 2004, 05:43 PM

I wrote it. But it's not an original thought. I might have picked up parts from other places and don't remember.

[ June 03, 2004, 16:43: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

PvK · #5 June 3rd, 2004, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by geoschmo:
...
Now I give up my freedom to save my life.
...

Huh?

To save your life from what? The authorities backing up the dim wits and slime bags who imposed the Patriot Act, which gave them the authority to cancel your freedom or make you disappear without due process?

PvK

David E. Gervais · #6 June 3rd, 2004, 07:09 PM

I was born here.
I was raised here.
I was educated here.
I made friends here.
I got married here.
I had children here.
I spent all my life here.
and I will die here.

throughout my life, a second class citizen,
because of color, race, language, or religion.

I tell you God this is not right.
When will the world see the true light.
We are a single human race.
and prejudice is man's disgrace.

-unknown author

Gandalf Parker · #7 June 3rd, 2004, 07:45 PM

Why "love a country"? Because its like many other "love"s. You automatically love your parents, love your car, love your pets, love your country. Not because the love grew out of reason. But because loving it means its there until a reason is given to not love it anymore.

Most people on this planet are going to love their country unless they have read extensively or traveled. No one is going to be able to tell them not to.