Big Hollywood » Freedom of Speech

Mr. President Goes Back to School: A Controversial Issue?

by Adam Baldwin

Today, President Obama delivers his speech to American students after several days of controversy due to its companion U.S. Department of Education (ED) Lesson Plan.

Count me among those who find a U.S. President delivering a speech to students–especially one encouraging them towards academic responsibility and excellence as a means to productive adult citizenship–among the more innocuous, and potentially beneficial activities of the Office.

Appreciating yesterday’s early release of President Obama’s speech and having now read it in context, I would heartily maintain that opinion, were it not for the ED’s controversial lesson plan.

FYI:

Part I, Sec. 1905 of the ED’s General Provisions: ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION states: (more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: Academia, education, Federal Mandates, freedo of thought, Freedom of Speech
Posted Sep 8th 2009 at 6:24 am in Featured Story, News, Politics | 219494174 Comments2009-09-08+13%3A24%3A14Adam+Baldwin

Fishy

by Victoria Jackson

I’m doing standup in Denver. Shelley is driving me from radio to radio to TV as I do the monkey dance at each station promoting the show, selling tickets. I don’t like this part of the job. I must answer the same 10 questions about Saturday Night Live and try to explain where I’ve been for the last fifteen years. All the DJ’s want are some juicy stories about celebrities. I don’t really have that many. I’m booked at two political talk stations, a rock station, a country station, and two local TV shows. I guess that’s my demographic! Everyone! I ask Shelley why I’m booked on the political stations. She shrugs, “Well, we didn’t really know…isn’t that what you are doing now?” The first stop I’m told is a “just right of center” show, so I feel free to share my newest shocking information that the White House is asking us to “snitch’” on our friends and family. To report anything “fishy.” This news is so abhorrent to me that I could barely sleep the night before. I immediately emailed Andrew Breitbart to see if it was true. He said yes. I searched the hotel computer web to see if the big shots, the smart people have gotten on this. They were just starting to fight back. The news was so new. Well, at least this administration is entertaining…in a bad way. I’m watching a horror movie every day.

As I share the shocking information that our Freedom of Speech is being attacked, the radio host across from me, his face, it looks like he just ate a lemon. It’s all scrunched up like…he hates me. He abruptly cuts me off and ends my interview. I’m stupefied at the reaction of people who “just can’t handle the truth.” My driver Shelley is a liberal. She doesn’t say anything. As we get in the car I try to apologize, “Well, he asked me why I was a new political activist. I guess I should just tell jokes.” I mean I have been hired basically to sell tickets to a bar where people will spend lots of money on alcohol. And, I do need to make some money. My husband is a cop. (more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: "Unhappily Ever After", Andrew Breitbart, Beer Summit, Cornyn, Cornyn and Sekulow's letters
Posted Aug 10th 2009 at 12:25 pm in Featured Story, News, Politics | 203378144 CommentsFishy2009-08-10+19%3A25%3A11Victoria+Jackson

Mellencamp: First Amendment More of a ‘Collective’ Thing

by Pam Meister

You know, liberals should be celebrating. Their man, The Won, is in the White House. They have control of both the House and the Senate, and legislation such as cap and trade and nationalized health care may well become reality – European socialism without having to leave the comfort of home. The Brave New World is on the way. Rejoice in mediocrity for all!

So why are they so grumpy? I suppose it’s because the idea that anyone might stray from the reservation is anathema to them, and this little thing in our Constitution called the First Amendment kind of gets in the way of collective happiness and singing Kumbaya around the campfire.

John “Cougar” Mellencamp is the latest to notice that not everyone is part of the collective, and he’s mighty peeved, making this observation about free speech in general and bloggers in particular: (more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: Brave New World, first amendment, Freedom of Speech, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry
Posted Jul 10th 2009 at 9:03 am in Celebrity News, Politics | 180514176 Comments2009-07-10+16%3A03%3A52Pam+Meister

The ACLU: Self-Righteous Fools and Fascistic Bullies

by Burt Prelutsky

I am not a religious man. I’m neither proud of that nor ashamed. I merely state that fact to establish where I’m coming from. I have friends who are believers and friends who are not. Where religion is concerned, I believe in live and let live. I only wish that the ACLU shared that attitude. I don’t like to describe myself as an agnostic or an atheist because I don’t care to align myself with the people whose own religion consists of a profound antipathy to everybody else’s.

I decided a long time ago that religion would play no part in my life, but I felt no compulsion to convert others. Oddly enough, I never resented the folks who would ring my doorbell and try to proselytize me. Although I don’t like dealing with uninvited guests, I always thought it was nice of them to be that concerned about the eternal soul of a perfect stranger. Having said all that, I wish to announce that I despise the ACLU for its relentless attacks on Christianity and Judaism. It’s bad enough that they will wage battle on behalf of any busybody looking to banish Christmas and Hanukkah symbols from public places, including one’s own front yard.

However, these very same lawyers will eagerly go to the mat to safeguard a Muslim’s right to wear a disguise on her driver’s license, a Navajo’s right to ingest peyote, and a cultist’s right to ritualistically slaughter small animals. (more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: "Winter break", ACLU, Christmas, first amendment, Freedom of Speech
Posted Apr 28th 2009 at 3:23 pm in Featured Story, Politics, Religion | 1184422 Comments2009-04-28+22%3A23%3A59Burt+Prelutsky

Re: The Freedom To Say This Is Unacceptable

by Chele Stanton

Wow, I am amazed at the passionate responses this article received… it certainly ruffled some feathers… thank you for all of your words (whether I agree with them or not)… but let me address one point that seems to have been grossly misunderstood:

For those saying that my article implies limiting our FREEDOM OF SPEECH, you couldn’t be more wrong; and you have missed the very reason for such a piece. Just as this artist has used his FREEDOM OF SPEECH to create (in my opinion) filth, I have used my FREEDOM TO SPEAK out loud to call it for what I believe it is… a total piece of crap… I am exercising MY freedom to say, “This, is unacceptable.” (more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: 9/11, Bush face on urinal, Freedom of Speech, freedom to criticize
Posted Mar 19th 2009 at 5:04 pm in Entertainment, Politics | 85010125 Comments2009-03-20+00%3A04%3A12Chele+Stanton

The Freedom To Say This Is Unacceptable — Updated

by Chele Stanton

I’m not really one to speak out loudly about much of anything… ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you I’m usually quite shy and very easy to get along with… but if you provoke me too much… well, let’s just say… you’d best back up, take your pack and run!

Politics can be an ugly subject for many, but what I don’t understand is why people can’t just agree to disagree instead of taking things so personally? I can respect those who may believe differently from me as long as they understand why and can back up their beliefs with facts. I’m so tired of this “jump on the bandwagon” mentality or follow the “celebrity leader” junk that has become the political norm for the day. After all, do celebrities really know the ins and outs of national security, how to effectively rescue hostages, plan an attack on the enemy? (more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: art degrades Bush, bush, Bush face on urinal, degrading art, Freedom of Speech
Posted Mar 18th 2009 at 5:22 pm in Entertainment, Politics | 82606179 Comments2009-03-19+00%3A22%3A42Chele+Stanton