You Cannot Silence Us

The draft of a new bill (S.773) seems to give the president ( obviously, that would currently be Obama) full authority to shut down the internet access to a private sector as he sees fit.

To be fair, the assumption is that the president would use these new powers only when the nation or a specific sector is being attacked. But, as we all know well, powers granted can easily be abused. After all, who is to say what a true emergency is? Perhaps, blogs criticizing the new health care plan might be considered a "threat". Or, maybe the lunatics in our government might come to the conclusion that the town hall "mobs" threaten public safety and shut down the internet as a way of "protecting" Americans? POOF! There goes Twitter. And, what was that sound? Oh, it was the crashing sound of Democracy being thrown out the window.

It has long been known that the mainstream media has lost its way and has become extremely liberal. They do what they can to twist the truth in favor of liberal ideals and to destroy any and all opposition, i.e. the conservatives and Republicans. We clearly saw this during the coverage of the 2008 presidential campaigns and we continue to see it in the current coverage of this White House.

This week, the mainstream media has hit another low. As the health care debate is heating up, numerous third party ads have hit the airwaves, some in favor of and others against the current health care proposal. This is the healthy process of democracy. Everyone's voice should be heard and heard as loud as someone wants to shout it. However, some networks disagree. ABC and NBC have refused to air a ad that is critical of the health care proposal. ( Read more here:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,543940,00.html)

Censorship is a critical aspect to any tyrannical government. The Nazis used censorship to control their propaganda machine. Communists used it and continue to do so in China and North Korea. More recently, in Iran, when thousands of the country's citizens organized and protested the recent elections, what was one of the first things the tyrannical government did to suppress the threatening uprising? They shut down access to the internet.

And now in the nation that redefined liberty and freedom is seeking to do the same? Where is the outrage?

Censorship has long been a weapon of the anti-democracy arsenal. Control what people hear, say and see. Manipulate them with your own version of the story; lead them to believe in the lies you are creating. Now, our very own government is trying to seize control of the First Amendment.

Is this what we are becoming? A government that uses fear and power to control our lives? Look what our government is doing to our freedoms. They are willing to sacrifice everything that makes America the "last best hope for mankind". Just look at what they are trying to do: control the media, suppress the outlets for the First Amendment and silence the opposition. Well, we will not and we cannot be silent. We are Americans and we cherish the tremendously profound ideals that have made this country great far too much. This is a young country, but one with a rich history. If our history says anything about us it is this: we are willing to do everything and anything, even offer the ultimate sacrifice, to protect America and all it stands for. We are a nation of fighters. We are kind and compassionate. But not weak or naive. We are the American people and we will only take so much.

The outrage you see at the town hall meetings is Americans at their best. The elderly folks who flock to these events to voice their opinion are the same Americans who lived during the last Great War. They have seen what this country is willing to suffer to ensure that freedom and liberty endures. They are the protect of such sacrifices. The young married couple are the Americans who fear that their children will inherit a America that vaguely resembles the one they grew up in, if at all.

We are America, the greatest country on earth. Try to take away our freedoms, and you will see what we are mad of. Test our resolve and commitment to liberty and you will hear our voices. Try to silence us, we will only shout louder. We do not back down and we will not be bullied.

*text from the bill http://www.politechbot.com/docs/rockefeller.revised.cybersecurity.draft.082709.pdf