... the Obama administration recently joined the Organization of the Islamic Conference in sponsoring a resolution that would require UN member nations to act to bar and penalize speech that offends Muslims or can be claimed to encourage discrimination, hatred or violence against them.
Worse yet, with yesterday's signature by President Obama of so-called "hate crime" legislation, a vehicle has been established for just such sanctions to be imposed in the United States, the First Amendment's guarantees to the contrary notwithstanding.
Readers will note that the Organization of the Islamic Conference has a membership of 57 states. When Candidate Obama alarmed some folks by claiming he had campaigned in 57 states, there was a hue and cry -- not about what he had said and what it might mean, but against those who had noticed.
Back in the dusty BtB archives, I once wondered aloud about the "other countries" in Obama's statement that "we can't ... expect that other countries are going to say OK." I wrote then that
I don't get it. What other countries? Does he mean we take our orders from the OIC?
I guess that's exactly what he meant.
If we in Omerica use less energy, eat less, and live with less heating and cooling, how does that benefit anyone? Sure, it will make us poor, miserable and ultimately unproductive if that's what he wants, but what good does it do these "other countries"?
If we don't mine our coal or drill for our own oil and natural gas, will more people in Afghanistan and Burkina Faso have air conditioning?
If we can't afford to eat as much in Omerica, does that make food cheaper and more plentiful in Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan?
If we don't drive our SUVS but ride our bikes instead, does that really mean less bikes and more cars for China?
Doesn't all this assume there is a limited pie and the less we take, the more is left for others?
I'm afraid I'm not going to make a very good Socialist, because I really don't get how we're going to spread wealth around if we don't have any.
Back in the Good Ol' Days, if we wanted more, we just made more. pie.
Look how quickly we've gone from a big healthy pie ... to no one can afford pie anymore ... to the First Amendment not withstanding.
Pardon my early morning pessimism, but it's already too late; without the First Amendment, we're screwed.
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