Tuesday, March 25, 2003

Support blacklisted artists Unless you don't read the news at all, you have read about big-business-media's recent attempts to stiffle political dissent. As a child, I heard about Senator Joseph McCarthy's whitch hunts that horribly violated basic American values. I hope that future generations do not look back at our generation with scorn because we stood by while our great country lost its moral and legal values. To me this is not about politics - it is more basic: do we let very wealthy individuals manipulate what we see and hear, even entertainment materials? I enjoy arguing politics - much more fun to talk with people who disagree with me. I can not imagine how diminished I would feel if I was not exposed to people who intelligently argued with me, often changing my perspective. Free expression and discussion of issues is what America is all about. Even if you do not agree with their politics, try to support blacklisted artists. 5:55:29 AM

Ari Fleischer warned that "all Americans" should "watch what they say," I feel more than a little nervous when I hear President Bush's "your either with us, or against us" speeches. I voted for Bush, believing his campaign promises for a free and humble America. I feel like I was dupped by very clever politics. Salon magazine has a good article titled "Shut your mouth" that discusses the encroachment of US civil liberties. Fortunately, there is a broad coalition of groups ranging from very liberal to very conservative who are lobbying Congress to act with sanity when asked to pass legislation that is against basic American values. Please take the time to write to your Congressmen yourself on this issue. I personally denounce using fear-politics to get Americans to go along with political agendas that would make our founding fathers ill, if they were alive today. We live in a great country, but it is up to us to make sure that it stays that way. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to pass on an America that values freedom and honesty, not weird right wing political agendas. 5:42:35 AM

© Copyright 2003 Mark Watson. Last update: 9/16/03; 7:35:17 AM.