http://gma.yahoo.com/police-monitoring-social-media-setting-areas-possible-protests-030246289--abc-news-topstories.html
Police Are Monitoring Social Media, Setting Up Areas for Possible Protests
"Police in south Florida are bracing for the verdict in the racially charged George Zimmerman murder trial, creating places for people to peacefully protest, monitoring social media and urging people to remain calm."
"In Miami-Dade County, where Martin lived with his mother, police have launched a campaign to encourage people to "be vocal, not violent" and have designated two parks as "First Amendment Parks" where people can assemble peacefully to express their feelings rather than take to the streets."
What's wrong with this picture? When did this country start designating First Amendment Parks? Are we now only allowed to voice opposition in special designated areas? That certainly makes it easier for the government to control opposing viewpoints.
The first amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law....abridging the freedom of speech,... interfering with the right to peaceably assemble.
34 comments:
Love so many things about you and your lifestyle. Hate your politics.
Did whites go berserk rioting when OJ got away with the murder of two white people? No. Why do people lose all sense of rational when a Hispanic guard, who undisputably obtained injuries to the back of his head, shoots a 17 yr old black young man in self defense.
The circumstances are completely different. OJ was not defending himself. He walked free, no riots. If the Hispanic man is found innocent, why should this incite senseless rioting? The libs who are going bananas over this are nuttier than lawless rioters. There's no getting through to irrational people. Some people are educated beyond their intelligence. And then there are the rioters. I will bet if riots take place, these people won't even know what they are rioting about. They'll think its about a white man killing an innocent skittle eating black boy. They will think its about race when race has absolutely nothing to do with why the person was shot.
@Beverly: I couldn't agree more.
@Melanie: race factors into this case in a big way. Just listen to the 911 tapes when GZ made the initial call. If it were a white kid walking through the neighborhood that night, he likely wouldn't have been profiled by GZ, and he would have made it home to eat his skittles and drink his tea. I don't think the OJ case is what they're thinking about down in Florida right now. They are more worried about fallout similar to the Rodney King case where the 5 officers who beat the sh # t out of Mr. King were acquitted. Sad that you feel this is about Liberals. But I imagine much of what you find wrong with your life you attribute to Liberals. Good luck with that.
just in case you missed it...the point of this post is not about the crime or the trial.
Yes, I'm aware of the point of the post, John. What I find a little disingenuous is the fact that you read the article and jumped to the conclusion that people are somehow relegated to only being allowed to protest in "First Amendment Parks." The operative word in the article was the police were "encouraging" people to go there if they wanted to protest. You know, if I'm a cop and am facing the prospect of a town of 50,000 suddenly erupting in violence over a verdict, I'd be doing everything I could to help keep the place calm and trying to provide a constructive and non-violent option to setting fires in the street and looting. But back to your point...I think the first (and only) time I remember mandatory "First Amendment Parks" was during the 2004 presidential election when, during the GOP convention (in Boston I think?), all the people who were protesting Bush and his wars were required to only protest within a fenced area miles from the actual convention. Anybody found outside of the "First Amendment Park" who were protesting were told they would be arrested. But I imagine that little fact won't sit well with our friend Melanie. Tone down the paranoia, it doesn't really look very good on you, my friend.
I think the precedent for gutting the 1st Amendment came about when Bush2 was able to get protesters who disagreed with him removed to an area away from him for 'security' reasons.
They were free to peaceable assemble somewhere else, somewhere out of sight. Demonstrations in support did not have that problem.
Not to beat a dead Longhorn, but Rob may not be aware that Bush2 and his love of the 1st Amendment recently reared his ugly head once again during the dedication of his presidential library over near SMU. We Dallas residents were warned that anybody carrying a sign in protest were only allowed to protest miles away from the area, somewhere up north on Central Expressway. We were further notified that anybody caught in the area carrying a sign or wearing a shirt that had any sort of message on it would be arrested on the spot. So much for your theory of Liberals desecrating the 1st Amendment. But I'll give you a free pass on not knowing that since I don't think Rush/Hannity/O'Reilly/Coulter talked about it during one of their rants. So, John, could you remind me again...what was the point of the post? Liberals creating a police state and gutting the 1st Amendment? I think that's where you were going with the post, right?
Yes, I know John, and I'm sorry for getting off the topic. :) My bad. And Steve, your imagination has gotten carried away with you if you are trying to imagine what my troubles in life are. It's rather obnoxious of you to even imagine what's wrong with my, or any other stranger's life. My biggest problem now is what are we going to do with our cattle herd if it doesn't rain. Much of what's wrong in my life today doesn't have anything to do with mindless liberals. Fortunately, I don't have to be around many libs. What I find wrong (not with my life) are liberal's loathesome traits of killing babies, love of communism, plague of atheism, desire for criminals to be the only ones with guns, and unions. I find all liberals greatly suffer from hypocrisy. Steve, I don't believe in luck, so no need wishing me any.
As for the race issue in the case, this is playing out to the delight of this administration. They want nothing more to incite a civil race war so they can practice martial law. Maybe roll out some of the foreign troops on our U.S. soil who are waiting in the wings.
John, I'm sorry about getting this topic off our freedom of speech rights being violated. Oh, and did I mention libs are opposed to freedom of speech, which is why they want to box it up in a little plot of designated land. Poor libs can't see the forest for the trees.
This is not about republicans and democrats...that is just the illusion of choice they want you all to believe in. This is about us vs. them - good vs. evil.
@Melanie and John...I think Fox has you right where they want you. Peace to you both.
I agree with both John and Fox. This is not suppose to be a police state!!
You have the biased media, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and now the Black Panthers stirring the pot. Florida lawmen not wanting to put up with a Watts type event. Maybe it's best to keep it corralled and controlled. Damned shame when Americans must be treated like beasts.
Love so many things about you and your lifestyle. Hate your politics.
double ditto.
but I respect your right to be who you are just disappointed.
Love so many things about you and your lifestyle. Hate your politics.
triple ditto.
hmmm...and what exactly are my politics? I stand for the constitution and the bill of rights. I don't throw blame at either of YOUR parties. It is our inalienable rights given to us by God that I stand for. The more you buy into the left/right illusion, the more you will be distracted from the truth of good vs. evil.
Wow!
Are party independent moderates extinct? We seem to have lost our true center these days.
Good grief, you people that are up in arms that John spoke up in support of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
His obvious point, and the point he literally made, was the general infringement on the First Amendment by setting up 2 First Amendment Zones, where I assume citizens are encouraged to go, IF they want to express their 1st Amendment. You people seem to have no problem with that.
Well, let me ask you this: If tomorrow, the government stated that if you wanted to exercise abortion 'rights', which are legal in this country, you are encouraged to drive to 1 of 2 different abortion 'zones'. Maybe they are conveniently located--maybe not. But don't worry--don't be paranoid. They might have a good reason for doing it--or maybe not. In any case, don't worry about it.
Please. Your protests would be so loud that neither John, Ben nor Carl would be able to sleep in the desert.
Good grief; sanctimonious, misdirected outrage doesn't look good on YOU.
(But I just LOVE your lifestyle:)
Blogger John Wells said...
hmmm...and what exactly are my politics? I stand for the constitution and the bill of rights. I don't throw blame at either of YOUR parties. It is our inalienable rights given to us by God that I stand for. The more you buy into the left/right illusion, the more you will be distracted from the truth of good vs. evil.
AMEN
gotta send all the Lawyers TO MEET WITH THEIR MAKER,THE OLE DEVIL NEEDS HIS KIDS.they own our government ,as much as our government owns us.
Anyone given a thought to George Orwell's prediction?
John, couldn't agree with you more. Well put, thank you.
re: " The more you buy into the left/right illusion, the more you will be distracted from the truth of good vs. evil."
re: left and right (and what happened to the independent middle?)
10 Commentators the Right and Left Love to Hate
http://goo.gl/h3uVj
Mr. Beck is on the left/right list.
Looking at our world today I see no difference in the two parties other than theatrics to keep those that care occupied by arguing.
Nothing of any real substance changed when Bush2 left & the new guy moved in. Nothing real, just theater.
Meet the new boss.
Same as the old boss.
-The Who, 1971
Ron K said:
"Well, let me ask you this: If tomorrow, the government stated that if you wanted to exercise abortion 'rights', which are legal in this country, you are encouraged to drive to 1 of 2 different abortion 'zones'. Maybe they are conveniently located--maybe not."
They just did this in Texas with the passage of the recent abortion bill – reducing 40+ clinics to just 5 that meet their narrow criteria. So now, if you live in El Paso and you need an abortion to protect the mother's life, she will have to travel to San Antonio or Austin to receive medical help.
John, love your life and love your politics... :)
Wretha
Steve--so apparently you agree with the recent passage of the abortion bill. I stand corrected!
Everyone, Steve agrees with 1st Amendment zones and the recent Texas abortion bill.
Steve, hooray--at least you are consistent:)
This is really, really interesting. The discussion here started with GZ, then moved onto right/left and their relevance to good and evil. I love when the discussion reaches abortion, because this is really the heart of the matter- not abortion- but the freedom to be good or evil.
Is goodness good if you are coerced into being that way? Of course, the people of this country must enforce reasonable penalties/incarceration/prevention for heinous and riotous acts, but the constitution needs to leave the right to be evil intact, for this is a free country.
Good vs. Evil comes down to the choices made in the individual "soul," not in politics or the media. Evil should not be illegal. Disruptive acts to the constitutional rights of others should be.
John- more pictures of the greenhouse!!
I agree with Ryan. More Greenhouse photos.
As for the GZ trial. This is all I have to say.
Nothing good has come of this whole situation. Nothing.
John, I appreciate your take on the media and the fact that the left/right divide only serves to polarize people against one another. There has to be a truth which lies between these extremes of politics. The Zimmerman trial never deserved the kind of attention it received. Murders happen across the country all the time... this one has been used by the media for some particular reason. John, you should check out noagendashow.com. Their twice weekly podcast is an eye opener.
Your life is great, and you have the right to write what you believe. I live in northern ireland but believe you are right in your beliefs.
@ Ron K: If you read what I wrote, you would see that I was simply stating facts and taking NO position on either. I do, however, take fault with people being prevented from voicing their opinion wherever and whenever they like. But connect the dots however you see fit.
Oh, you haven't heard of the "free speech zone"? It's usually a caged-in area, far from the object of the protestation itself.
Amerika.
This just in ... John Wells has been found NOT GUILTY of 2nd degree murder in the mass killing of dozens of acknowledged White Flies who had staged an unlawful sit-in at his The Field Lab Greenhouse. Wells has admitted to using a licensed-to-carry fly-swatter in an effort to protect his otherwise unprotected greenhouse plants and trees. The jury had no immediate comment on its verdict. There is speculation that the Justice Department may file additional civil rights charges against Wells because several Black Flies have been spotted thriving near Wells' chicken house and Longhorn Villa causing concern among civil rights observers nationwide. Wells did announce this afternoon that there would be adequate parking and a designated protest arena along Mailbox Road approximately two miles east of the alleged discrimination site starting tomorrow at noon.
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