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SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- As the British government played dangerous politics with the fundamental right to free speech, the same government has strengthened that right by repudiating its own abuse --- in the case of San Francisco talk show host Michael Savage.
The British Daily Mail reported today that “Home Secretary Alan Johnson is to scrap his predecessor's policy of naming and shaming people banned from Britain for spreading race hate and terrorism... The U-turn follows Jacqui Smith's controversial decision two months ago to announce a list of 16 people branded as 'least wanted' in the UK.”
This was not a benevolent government righting itself, or an fatally injured British Labor Party trying to save itself.
This was one individual, one American, who refused to be intimidated, bullied and banned by a major Western government. This defense of free speech was personal, and singular, as it was in the beginning.
The U.S. State Department did nothing. Michael Savage’s professional colleagues did nothing. The great defender of personal rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, did little.
A metaphor for the right itself, one individual, Michael Savage, was nearly destroyed, professionally and personally by the British Home Secretary. He stood alone. He fought back.
A message has been sent across the Atlantic to those who would propose “fairness” on the airwaves to stifle opposition, even offensively opposing speech. If you dare to silence opposition under the cover of “fairness”, if you dare to mimic Latin America dictators to consolidate power for more “fair” talk radio, you will suffer the consequences.
In this case, one man and his listeners stood up to a powerful government and party. But if Congress or the Obama Administration attempt to try limit free speech, not thousands, millions will stand up and defend that fundamental right.
Michael Savage, through his intense legal and verbal defense defended the thousands of talk show hosts in this country, as well as the thousands of far left progressives who despise him and conservative talk radio. They will never admit that, nor will they send him a note of gratitude. They looked the other way when Savage was banned, and, they’ll turn their backs to his victory.
But that in itself is the majesty and power of free speech. A right strengthened today not by the courts, or politicians, or advocacy groups. Strengthened by just one man, one American, defending his right to free speech, and thus defending that right for all of us.
Comments
Thumbs up for free speech; thumbs down on the rhetoric of Michael Savage. Thanks, Arthur.
Way to go Savage. I see the world in a similar way, and many here in the Bay do as well. Thumbs Up for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Savage Sucks .com is up on eBay
Would be fun to have a site to POKE FUN!!!
I like Savage...I don't agree with everything but he has the right to say what he wants to say.
Of course the little lunatic shouldn't be banned. But, to make him a defender of free speech would require either a.) profound stupidity or b.) never having listened to him. This man frequently calls for the expulsion of, or denial of speech to, those with who he disagrees. His irrational rants are sort of freak show funny, but were his beliefs ever to be actuated, we'd all live in the most oppressive of worlds. Odd how this man who repeatedly calls for silencing others, between his maudlin waxing poetic on his sorrow over the pimple on his dog's testicles (this is very true too), is hailed as a hero of free speech. In any case, it is silly to "ban" the weiner from anywhere. He's nuts all right, and quite stupid too. He'll tell you ceaselessly about how brilliant he is, and then will reveal with his misinformation and half-baked understanding of complex issues that he has no idea about what he's talking about. If only he could be lured out into debate, where he'd be humiliated.
Chuck, ive been listening to Savage off and on for many years and he has never come close to "calling for the expulsion" of other speach. Chuck, your little paragraph is nothing more than a rant with nothing but opinion and zero factual examples.
F*&^ the libtards Savage Rocks!
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