Hello folks
I have been writing to a few activist organizations and their leaders. I have been urging them in the most vociferous and fact-based way to please send out petitions about S. 1959 "The Thought Crimes Bill" and try to topple it.
The result from several organizations I have written to has been:
"S. 1959 is too broadly worded and is almost sure to pass the Senate. It needs to be amended".
"We are practically-oriented and to ask them to stop it in its tracks will not work".
Well guess what. To "amend" free thinking itself is never going to fly with us AMericans, is it?
We MUST write these short-sighted idiots and let them know in no uncertain terms that:
a) It is OUR freedom of thought which is being monitored by this bill. And they too will themselves be affected. Perhaps their own organization may be weakened as the INternet is targeted and thought patterns are monitored by the Government.
b) To "amend" thinking itself is unconstitutional. Since this bill targets thought and not action, as confirmed by ACLU Legislative Director Caroline Frederickson, to "amend" such legislation is futile. The foundation underneath a house must be secure for a house to be rebuilt, and a broken foundation will only result in loss of the house itself no matter how much you strengthen it. Same here: The foundation of this bill rests on monitoring of thought patterns. The foundation itself is the problem, not merely the loose wording in the bill. In fact, targeting thinking itself is as unconstitutional as it comes.
c) Here is Truthout's article about the bill, with links to other articles and Caroline Frederickson's statement about it: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112907J.shtm
D) Please tell these people in no uncertain terms that we expect them, as grassroots organizations, to collect signatures to topple the bill and not to "amend" it. Tell them that to compromise in the area of free thought is no compromise at all! Period, end of discussion.
CONGRESS WILL BE MEETING AND LEGISLATING THIS BILL IN JANUARY. WE HAVE GOT TO HOP,EVEN IF IT IS OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND THAT IS TRULY THE MOST UNFORTUNATE TIMING EVER! SORRY FOLKS, BUT FREE SPEECH IS ON THE LINE AND THIS IS NO JOKE.
THE POWER OF THE INTERNET IS REMARKABLE AND THE WEB IS ABUZZ WITH CONCERN ABOUT THIS BILL. THAT IS TO OUR FAVOR. IF EVERYBODY WHO IS CONCERNED WRITES TO THEIR FAVORITE GRASSROOTS ENTITIES, THINK OF HOW MUCH IMPACT WE CAN MAKE!
LET'S HAVE AN ONSLAUGHT OF 50,000 EMAILS GOING TO THE ENTITIES BELOW, IN THE NEXT WEEK. THOSE ENTITIES WILL BE SURE TO LISTEN IF THEY REALIZE THAT THEY ARE BOUND TO LOSE THEIR CONSTITUENCY IF THEY DON' T ACT IN OUR FAVOR. THERE'S A POWER IN THE PURSE AND IN THE STRENGTH OF NUMBERS!
PLEASE WRITE TO MOVEON.ORG, THE ACLU, CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, DEMOCRATS.COM AND YOUR OWN FAVORED ENTITY AND URGE THEM TO IMMEDIATELY SEND OUT PETITIONS TO STOP S. 1959!
Thank you.