BS: Chilling effect on free speech-Web radio

Subject: Chilling effect on free speech-Web radio
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 08:10 PM

Civil liberties loss, killing free speech?

(Please note: neither WyoWoman nor I wrote this. I am passing it along, for what it is worth.)

Passed on in an email from Wyo Woman:

Are you a terrorist? The Kansas City based ISP for Cosmic Radio (a Topeka based internet radio and TV site) told Cosmic Radio that it had instructions from the OHS (Office of Home Security) to remove three shows from its cite, all the shows were internet re-broadcast shows from WBAI and WBIX (dissidents from BIA since the Pacifica take-over) in New York. "Democracy in the Americas" (on Latin American politics), "Radio Free Eireann" (Irish Republican politics) and "The Al Lewis Show" (Grandpa Al from the Munster's - leftist talk radio) have all been removed from the Cosmic Radio site. Check out:

http://209.172.196.169/iraradio/frame.htm

Strangely, Radio Free Eireann still broadcast on WBAI Saturday 12:30 to 2:00 Central time. Listen and decide for yourself if they are "terrorists"

http://209.172.196.169/iraradio/frame.htm

or check out the show's website here:http://www.wbaifree.org/radiofreeeireann/

Also, Check out this document with the FBI's definitions of domestic "terrorist groups". http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress01/freeh051001.htm "The FBI views domestic terrorism as the unlawful use, or threatened use, of violence by a group or individual that is based and operating entirely within the United States or its territories without foreign direction and which is committed against persons or property with the intent of intimidating or coercing a government or its population in furtherance of political or social objectives."

"The second category of domestic terrorists, left-wing groups, generally profess a revolutionary socialist doctrine and view themselves as protectors of the people against the "dehumanizing effects" of capitalism and imperialism. They aim to bring about change in the United States through revolution rather than through the established political process."

"Anarchists and extremist socialist groups -- many of which, such as the Workers'World Party, Reclaim the Streets, and Carnival Against Capitalism -- have an international presence and, at times, also represent a potential threat in the United States. For example, anarchists, operating individually and in groups, caused much of the damage during the 1999 World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Seattle."

"Special interest terrorism differs from traditional right-wing and left-wing terrorism in that extremist special interest groups seek to resolve specific issues, rather than effect more widespread political change. Special interest extremists continue to conduct acts of politically motivated violence to force segments of society, including, the general public, to change attitudes about issues considered important to their causes. These groups occupy the extreme fringes of animal rights, pro-life, environmental, anti-nuclear, and other political and social movements."

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"People know what they do; and sometimes they know why they do it.
But what they don't know is what what they do does." -- M. Foucault ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: RE: BS: Chilling effect on free speech-Web radio
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 11:40 PM

well....looks like it is starting...wonder when folks will start to disappear...

Subject: RE: BS: Chilling effect on free speech-Web radio
From: Amos
Date: 02 Oct 01 - 11:51 PM

Left wing terrorism as described above does not include non-violent left wing activism. It is just fuzzy writing. There is nothing terrorist about street demonstrations in support of weeping willows or freeing the bunnies and it does not come under the FBI's meaning of left-wing terrorism. Advocating the revolutionary overthrow of the government verbally does not, either; but it gets right up to the edge where inciting to riot and conspiring to commit violent acts begins. So it naturally raises little "Red!" flags when encountered.

And I suggest that if you were, yourself, an FBI agent, you'd probably be a little paranoid too!!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Chilling effect on free speech-Web radio
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 09:58 AM

Mark Twain once said something about freedom of speech and freedom of religion and the good sense to practice neither.

I can't say anything about the shows in question because I have never heard them; and I tend to agree that it may be extreme to have them removed from the airwaves. I don't like to see those type of things happen.

However, we all know that sometimes it's best to keep yer gob shut; but that should be up to the individual.