“Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and -- as it did here -- inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a Nation we have chosen a different course -- to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.”
-- Chief Justice John Roberts, Snyder v. Phelps (2011)
In the wake of the intended slaughter at the Draw Muhammad Event in Garland, Texas, two very different pictures are being drawn of Pamela Geller who heads the promoting organization called "American Freedom Defense Initiative."
Brian Levin, J.D. writes on the Huffington Post, "Pamela Geller, 56, a self-described free-speech advocate and outspoken Islamophobe who spins wild, hateful conspiracy theories about Muslims ..."
To Sean Hannity, she is a defender of free speech, and an implacable opponent of Muslim Jihad.
Until the attempted jihad in Texas, I had never heard of Pamela Geller or "AFDI." Here is what "AFDI" says about itself in its mission statement:
"Our objective is to go on the offensive when legal, academic, legislative,
cultural, sociological, and political actions are taken to dismantle our basic
freedoms and values.
"AFDI acts against the treason being committed by national, state, and local
government officials, the mainstream media, and others in their capitulation
to the global jihad and Islamic supremacism, the ever-encroaching and
unconstitutional power of the federal government, and the rapidly moving
attempts to impose socialism and Marxism upon the American people.”
The partial transcripts below, clearly indicates Ms. Geller unabashedly speaks her mind, and minces no words." So the question is, is she a "a Muslim-hater," a self-aggrandizer and a bigot, or an American who has made up her mind to defend freedom of speech by saying whatever the radical Muslims say she can't say without subjecting herself to capital punishment under Sharia law? Should she capitulate; and engage in political correctness? Many say, yes.
On May 3, Geller was interviewed by CNN anchor, Alisyn Camerota:
Camerota: Did you get any intel from the police just how dangerous an event like this could be?
Geller: It's dangerous because increasingly we're abridging our freedoms so as not to offend savages. The very idea that if something offends me, or if I'm insulted by something, I'll kill you, and that way, I can get my way, and somehow this is OK with members of the elite media and academia, is outrageous.
Camerota: Of course everyone's concerned about the violences, but let's face it, your event was not just about the violence ...
Geller: My event was about freedom of speech, period. Freedom of Speech is the First Amendment. ... Political speech is the most protected, because who will decide what is good and what is forbidden? These arbitrary voices? ... The Muslim Brotherhood? We need to have this conversation. The fact that we have to spend upwards of $50,000 in security speaks to how dangerous and how in trouble freedom of speech is in this country. And then we have to get on these news shows, and somehow those that are targeted, those who were going to be slaughtered, are attacked, speaks to how morally inverted this conversation is. I'm not concerned with Muslims, especially peaceful Muslims, but I am concerned with the 25 percent who support Sharia.
Later, on May 5, Geller again appeared -- this time opposite a radical Muslim cleric from London, Anjem Choudry.
Sean Hannity: You want world-wide Sharia?....
Choundry: Of course. We believe the whole world to be governed by Sharia law.
Hannity: And you believe Muslims who leave their religion -- apostates-- should be killed.
Choudry: Well, of course. The prophet said whoever changes, kill him.
Hannity: And gays and lesbians should be killed.
Choudry: If they do the acts publicly, it carries capital punishment. ...
Hannity: All these incidents over a cartoon .... Do you support this death threat against Pam Geller because she ran a free speech contest drawing cartoons of your prophet?...
Choudry: You're talking about people who deliberately had a competition to insult the message of Muhammad. ... Now this woman was to draw cartoons or have people draw cartoons to insult the prophet knowing full well this carries the death penalty in Islam. ...
Hannity: So you support the death penalty for Pam Geller, who is not Muslim, because she had a cartoon contest? ...
Choudry: ... It's about divine law. Whoever insults the Messenger ... that would carry capital punishment.
Hannity:So you want her to die?
Choudry: She should be put before a Sharia court, and tried and, if she's found guilty, of course it would carry capital punishment.
There is no question that Geller was provocative. She meant to be provocative. A main argument made against her is that she may well have had the right of free speech, but that she was a self-aggrandizer and bigot for exercising it.
But if there is to be free speech in America, people have to be free to say what they think. Geller may be right or wrong. You can form your own rough opinions.
Our First Amendment says, Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech, or the press. Our 14th Amendment, extends both rights against abridgment by any state. So if Congress and the states cannot abridge free speech and press, are we going to say Muslim clerics with their 7th century mentalities can? Is there a better way to fight "fuquas" barring free speech than to say exactly what the Muslim bigots and fanatics say you can't say? Say nothing, and they win.
But what I find utterly insane is at the same time radical Muslims would criminalize Geller's right to free speech, they themselves are exercising their right to free speech in calling for her assassination. And in the view of some Americans, Geller has suddenly becomes the "villain."
Two assassins traveled 1,000 miles to kill her, and deny her her constitutional rights to life, liberty and free speech, and she is portrayed as the villain! If Geller is against global jihad, given the beheadings of Christians, and the kidnappings, rapes and forced-marriages of young girls being perpetrated by people calling themselves "Muslims" in the name of Islam, maybe she has good reason. And don't forget: they already tried to exterminate her, and have issued a new "fuqua," calling her a "swine," and promising to kill her -- as well as anyone who gives her a platform.
Posted: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 11:00 pm- QuadCitiesOnline
No comments:
Post a Comment