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Current Events » in reply to Re:an approriate manifesto

Re: an approriate manifesto

Yeah, he's right. I'm not entirely comfortable with his comments on the Right, although most of this looks pretty good.

...WHEREAS, the Right has failed us by pushing 'anti-terrorist' measures which bid fair to be both ineffective and prejudicial to the central liberties of a free society; and in some cases by rhetorically descending to almost the same level of bigotry as our enemies;

A little vague on specifics. As for the last sentence, it might be worth remembering that "rhetorically" descending to the level of our enemies, even if such is the case, is quite a distance from flying planes into their buildings, blowing up nightclubs full of their kids, and summarily executing anyone who disagrees with your worldview. "Sticks and stones," and all that...

...WE REJECT, as a self-serving power grab by the least trustworthy elements of our own side, the theory that terrorist depredations can be effectively prevented by further restrictions on the right of free speech, or the right of peacible assembly, or the right to bear arms in self-defense; and we strenuously oppose police-state measures such as the imposition of national ID cards or airport-level surveillance of public areas;

As far as I am aware, NO ONE, on either the Left or the Right, has proposed any actual legal restrictions on free speech or the right of peacible assembly. If I'm wrong on this, please point out the legislation. A lot of people who have stood up and said asinine things have been shouted down by the crowd, but having your comments pointed out as idiotic is not the same thing as legal censorship. As to the Second Amendment, we know who's after that one.

He has a point on the ID cards and surveillance, although in a nation where much of the property belongs to the government ("public" property,) I'm not sure on what basis we can complain about cameras being set up on such property.

...WE REJECT the idiotarianism of the Right -- whether it manifests as head-in-the-sand isolationism or as a Christian-identity chauvinism that all but mirrors the Islamo-fascist fanaticism of our enemies.

The isolationists are a minority, typified by Pat Buchanan. As for mirroring Islamo-fascist fanaticism, see my comments on the first statement. I note that there are damn few terrorist Christians running around loose nowadays, even in Ireland. In spite of what the Left tries to sell you, Timothy McVeigh was not a Christian, or even particularly religious. And when he blew up a building, it was not in the name of God.

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