Slashdot Mirror
Linking Dangerously
indole writes "Some /.'ers might remember the story of Sherman Austin, a Californina native who created the "anarchy" website raisethefist.com. Besides posting links to bomb-making instructions, the site caught the ire of the FBI for advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government. Well, approximately 18 months later Sherman Austin, now age 20, has been sentenced to 1 year in federal prison. According to Austin, 'he took a plea bargain because he feared his case was eligible for a terrorism enhancement, which could have added 20 years to his sentence.' Doubleplusungood."
If only this damned thing would stop getting in the way of making this country a better and safer place.
If anybody is communists it's the socialist that poise as democrats. Republicans have never and will never believe in socialism. The patriot act doesn't take away American rights it more clearly defines them. Most people have never even read the patriot act, so I guess you are probably one of those fools that speak before they learn the truth. Just remember to quote something memorable "The truth is out there" for those willing to find it.
As someone else's post pointed out, the First Amendment gives you the right to peacefully speak your mind, petition the government on grievances, gather in assembly. You cannot entice riot, civil war, or anything else that seeks to start violence.
One would think that the educated Slashdotter could actually read and tell the difference between violence and peaceful assembly. I guess not.
I beg to differ about your insinuation that the "Republicans" are turning this place into the soviet union...
If anyone, it's the damnned left-wing pieces of crap who insist on controlling what everyone sees and hears through the media, education, and other outlets.
Why is it that CNN wouldn't ever show pictures of the injured of 9/11, yet as soon as theres a blown-apart Iraqi kid, it's all over the place?
Our annhilation of the native americans worked out pretty good for most of us too, but I don't think it's nessecarily a great thing to make a habit of it.
It's also worth nothing that one wasn't able to criticize the government back then, and doing so got one a punishment frequently equivalent to having blown something sky high.
Look, speech of all sorts isn't free. You're held to task for what you say. He was saying something pretty far out there. Advocating actions which would inevitably lead to peoples violent deaths, and he provided a step in that direction. Should it be protected? Well not by me, he was indirectly advocating my murder. F him. Is he a dipshit kid who's mostly harmless and talking out of his ass? Yeah, if you're taking bets. Is this a case of our social network which normally works against natural selection actually comming close to aiding it? Yeah. To bad it didn't finish the job. There are already too many idiots, the world should be more dangerous, especially for the goof balls like this kid. But he didn't even want to find out if a judge or jury thought his speech was protected and free. He crapped out, some anarchist he turned out to be. I guess when convictions try to cross the harsh road of reality they don't always make it to the other side.
I mean that idealism and golden rule crap is a nice sentiment and all, but it's just not practical. Maybe I'm too cynical, or maybe I'm just pragmatic, but I find a silver rule along the lines of "Do unto other as they advocate doing to you." to be far more functional.
Would a more comical and effective form of protest have been to provide a way for visitors to send the president a snack pack of Rolled Gold Pretzels? Someone might still get killed, but he could hardly be blamed.
--Jimmy has fancy plans; and pants to match.