ACES FOR FREE SPEECH

[grrm]

It's Banned Books Week, and there's nothing I hate more than banning books (no, not even the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys), so I'm doing my little bit with a fundraiser for the COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

Comments

[ext_1208390]

Very Generous George and for a wonderful cause.

I volunteered for the CBLDF for years and Charles is a friend. I always try to help them out (as well as Hero Initiative) whenever I can and wish I was in a position to do more.
I still go back to the case of Jesus Castillo who as a Comic Store Manager (not the owner he just worked there) was tried and convicted of violating Texas law because he sold an Adult Comic which was in a clearly marked "Adult Section" of the store to...an ADULT Undercover Police Officer!
While the Prosecution met none of the Federal Standards for Obscenity he was convicted based on the fact that 'Comics are for children and therefore his intent was to sell this to children" Something which he never did.
The trial cost the fund I believe between $70-90K for the defense which went to the Supreme Court who chose not to hear the case... so the Donations are key!

FINE

[ext_1275242]

I hate comics now but used to like them.

Anyway no books should be banned, ever. Otherwise how are kids supposed to subvert their parents?

OK anxiously awaiting my book - tho the USPS doesnt like my dirt road so I'll have to drive to the PO. Which is fine. There's a good diner there.

Not Every Political Philosophy Wants to Tell People

[ext_1426153]

Libertarians, like myself, believe in the non-aggression principle, which means that you can't commit acts of aggression against the innocent. In other words, you can only use aggression in self-defense. In other words, keep your hands to your self and don't steal. All of our views start from this first principle. Then you must define property rights, which we would do through Lockean homesteading principles. The human race needs a healthy dose of "mind your own business."

If you care to understand what it means to be a libertarian and why we are wholly different than the left-right paradigm, read this:

http://mises.org/daily/3660

Re: Not Every Political Philosophy Wants to Tell People

[t40rs731n]

Libertarians are against censorship? Truly? I have to admit that while I would disagree with some stances (ie I believe there needs to be environmental protections because when corporations were left alone to take care of it they did a poor job), that would make me intrigued?

I always hear that the Libertarians are all about freedom. And when I think of Freedom, I think of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. But I always wondered "Whose Freedom?" My questions could go on forever, and this isn't the place. I will check out that site.

Re: Not Every Political Philosophy Wants to Tell People

[ext_1426153]

Yes, of course, libertarians are against censorship. We believe people should be free to do as they wish as long as they don't commit acts of violence against another person or his property. As for the environment, we believe that it should be illegal to pollute another person's property. That would be an act of aggression. Obviously, it is a complex issue, and you get knee deep in the complexities of libertarian theory when you delve into our views on the environment, but it is safe to say that we also want to live in a clean world. If you check out that site you'll find much on environmental issues, as well as answers to any other question you would have about the libertarian philosophy

[amydmartin]

Also, if your public library is like mine, they're probably doing something this week that could use support. We're doing a marathon reading of banned books. I participated Monday and the person before my part read from Animal Farm. I hadn’t read that book in years and had completely forgotten it was once considered subversive. It was good to hear old Major's education of the barn yard animals again so I picked up my old copy when I got home. Anyway, maybe some folks on here would like to see what’s going on at their own local library. As far as ensuring an open marketplace of ideas, supporting your library’s a good place to start.

Banned Books.... Censorship should be ILLEGAL

[t40rs731n]

I was just reading Fahrenheit 451 with my class. This is such an amazing book! I think everyone should read it. Luckily we have the version with his section at the end (I think it is entitled CODA) where he really lets loose about censorship.

Kudos to you for helping with the fund. But I think a law outlawing censorship would be a great step in the right direction.

Re: Banned Books.... Censorship should be ILLEGAL

[grrm]

Well, we actually have a law outlawing censorship : the first amendment.

Not that it has stopped the censors over the years.

Re: Banned Books.... Censorship should be ILLEGAL

[amydmartin]

Most of this banning was done by schools, libraries and school boards. The theory is kids do not have the same first amendment rights that adults do because they need to be protected from certain salacious material (Like the writings of Thomas Jefferson in Texas). That was also the reasoning of The Seduction of the Innocent etc. It’s an interesting area of law now because it’s all “balancing tests” which make for inherently mystifying and hard to apply case law. Lots of age consideration and community standards. So, yeah we have a law but it’s not without exceptions particularly where kids are concerned. I’m actually having a hard time coming up with a book that was outright banned by the US Government across the board (The Pentagon Papers but that wasn’t technically a book). Maybe Henry Miller counts since his works were nabbed by customs inspectors…