Freedom of Speech?

Recently the Bastiat Institute Facebook page had a photograph up that was removed by Facebook. The photo was of a swastika and the hammer and sickle with the words “If you are not prepared to defend Liberty be prepared to replace it with something else”. Now to me this statement seemed simple enough, especially when you take into account both Germany and Russia had their liberties and form of government replaced with the Nazi Party and Communism, respectably,  in their past. However it seems the idea of defending freedom violates Facebook rules based upon this statement from the Bastiat Institute today,

“Facebook decided to remove our image warning of the dangers of Communism and Fascism because they claim it violated Facebook Community Standards. Our guess is they just saw the Communist and Nazi flag and didn't read the message that was actually in opposition to these brutal political systems. Nevertheless, thanks to those who liked and shared this image in support of liberty over statism.”

Violates “Community Standards”? What the hell does that mean? I would be willing to bet that those who subscribe to the Bastiat Institute page found nothing at all inappropriate about this picture. My thinking is the Bastiat Institute is correct, Facebook personnel never read the message on the photo, just looked at the photo and decided it was inappropriate.

The funny thing is Facebook removed the message, which they obviously did not read, and it is just fine in spite of the fact it violated the Free Speech of the Bastiat Institute. No one bats an eye. There are those who would say, "Yes, but Facebook is a private company and can make their own rules." Well the fact is Facebook is now a PUBLIC company. So if this publically traded company can do this without people calling for a boycott then why isn't the same courtesy extended to Chic-Fil-A.....a true PRIVATE, family owned company? Double standard much?

Dan Cathy, son of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, told the Baptist Press July 16, that the conservative restaurant chain is, in fact, still conservative. In response to a question pertaining to the franchise’s support of the traditional family, Cathy replied “guilty as charged.” The president and chief operating officer continued, “We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that... we know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

Now let’s think about that for a moment, “but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles." I would like to agree, but do we really? Chic-Fil-A and Mr. Cathy have been blasted for these comments with threats of lawsuits and boycotts just because their values do not go hand in hand with main stream media, anyone “left of center” or those that have simply jumped on the gay pride band wagon because it is en vogue.

I fully support Chic-Fil-A on this. not because I stand on one side or the other on homosexuality, but because I stand on the side of free speech. Again, there are those calling for law suits and boycotts. Why? Because the president of a family owned business spoke his mind and gave his opinion. If any of these sue happy folks ever said anything I didn't like and I threatened to sue they would be screaming Civil Rights violation and calling on the ACLU. Well guess what? He has the same rights, as does the Bastiat Institute in their posting of the picture on Facebook. In fact, Facebook now being a publically sold company MUST comply with ALL federal laws governing corporations, including ensuring ones right to free speech, and not just their employees but members as well. Now I guess they could restrict membership based on their ideals and values(?), but should they start banning people simply because they don’t agree with them...well I would hate to be on the Facebook side of that Federal Lawsuit.

And where the hell is the ACLU in this matter? Why aren't they coming to the defense of the 1st Amendment rights of Mr. Cathy or the Bastiat Institute? Oh yeah, they can't. They are busy defending known traitors to the United States and these folks don’t qualify. Yes, I said defending (actually it should be suing on behalf of the family of) known traitors.

The link to the full story is HERE, but the short version is 3 American citizens, all three of whom are known and self admitted terrorists, all living in the Middle East and all doing whatever they can to further the efforts of al Qaeda were killed in an American drone attack. Now the ACLU is suing the US government on behalf of the surviving families on claims they were not granted a fair trial and that their deaths were cruel and unusual.

Wow. Granted, the terrorists in question were US citizens, however, they were by their actions, and by their OWN admissions, TRAITORS. And at least one was proud to be a traitor and even stated that in an article he wrote for an al Qaeda website and publication. Folks, traitors have been killed in every war we have ever been in. Why should the war on terror be any different? If you choose to be a traitor you should expect to be targeted. I promise if the ACLU had family in Afghanistan, and these killings did ANYTHING to keep their children safer, there is no way they would be filing this ridiculously frivolous law suit.

Chic-Fil-A and The Bastiat Institute have the God given right, as do all Americans, to voice their opinions, theoretically without fear of persecution. In fact all Americans have the God given right to not believe in God, be secure in their homes, keep and bear arms, et al. Why? Because The United States Constitution says so, period. Yet while Chic-Fil-A and Mr. Cathy specifically, is being labeled “bigot”, and The Bastiat Institute is being censored by Facebook the ACLU chooses to fight for terrorists and traitors. Is it any wonder their nickname is All Criminals Love Us?

Folks, you have got to start paying attention to what is going on. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I assure you there are people in this world, in this country, and in our very own government who would love to see this great nation turned on its ear and mad into a socialist state. And if you think otherwise you either A) are part of that problem B) not paying attention or C) just plain stupid. It’s time to wake up America, while you still have an America.

PS:  Have a nice day.