Not All Speech is Created Equal

Within the United States of America, we take the freedom of speech very seriously. When critics, comedians, etc yell censorship, they quickly invoke the right to freedom of speech. I can definitively understand how important it is to maintain and foster freedom of speech. However speech is not free if you want to reach people. Thirty minutes of prime time television would probably cost tens of thousands of dollars, something I could never afford. So even though I'm expressing myself without fear of censorship, my three followers who probably rarely check this blog is not the same as an editioral with a major newspaper or a network TV show. What would it truly look like if speech was truly free? Could I walk up to CBS and obtain a 30 minute spot between How I Met Your Mother and CSI? Could I go up to the New York Times and obtain the front page in order to talk about my feminist views? What do you think?

Rebekah aka Savage Sage

36th Anniversary of Roe v Wade

Today is the 36th Anniversary of Roe v Wade which provided women the legal right to safe abortions. This is the foundation upon which the freedom of reproductive choice in this country is based.

The following is a link which goes over the history of the case which was decided in 1973.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade

Check it out. Know our history.

You can also check out a live blog today about the reproductive rights movement at:

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/01/13/live-blog-prochoice-messagings-new-wave-or-passing-ship

Rebekah

Before You Vote consider the words of Pope John Paul the second

Hello, I'm bbbbbbback. Did you miss me?

On January 20th, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the first Black president of the United States of America. I know that everyone has already voted and this post will be beating a dead cow to death BUT i must.

Outside of many churches throughout the United States and Virginia, Operation Rescue, a anti-choice organization has placed flyers in how to vote based on your Catholic faith. Or at least how Randall Terry, the founder of operation rescue defines your Catholic faith. Surprise, surprise, the founder is a male who never have to face this choice. How easy to judge. The flyer is in a question and answer format. Here's an example of one of the questions and answers:

"Is voting for a pro-choice candidiate in this election 'cooperating formally with evil' and therefore a morally grave act?

Answer: Yes. Faithful Catholics who vote for a pro-choice candidate in this election will cooperate formally with evil, and will be guilty of committing a morally grave act."

After quoting John Paul the Second, the flyer goes on to say:

"the voter is held directly responsible by God for all evil effects of such an act."

Wow, so according to this flyer, a vote for Obama is a vote for evil. Guess what, I'm evil. This reminds me of when I protested at an Palin rally with my Obama sign and got screamed at that I'm going to hell.

This flyer is fundamentally insulting to members of the Catholic faith, it seems to imply that the faithful can not use their minds to think over the issues and come to their own conclusions. This flyer saids let me tell you what to think and how to think it because you can't be trusted to come to your own conclusions. This is especially manipulative because church goers are working for the salvation of their souls. It goes on to say in no incertain terms that, "you may not in good conscience vote for Barack Obama if you want to be a faithful catholic citizen."

I'm glad that the majority of Americans have said that they will not stand for these tactics that feed on our insecurities, fears, the worst of us.

Savage Sage