Helen Thomas
In her time she's seen them all:
Johnson's anguish and Nixon's fall
From Camelot's dissolution
In a grieving nation's tears
Helen Thomas was a witness
to the history of my years.
She held a place of honor
Where all to her deferred:
Senior writer in the press corps
Well respected, sometimes feared.
Now she's fired and disgraced-
banned from her accustomed place.
The arbiters of elegance
took umbrage at her words
Her statement lacked “correctness”
As per the beltway herd
She's a racist and a bigot, An old and senile shrew-
They have no need of sticks and stones who know what words can do.
Once upon a better time
We had a Bill of Rights
The press was free and speech was free
We were vigilant of our rights.
But now it's just a paper
a tapir burning in the night..
These days the press conveys the lies
that government wants heard.
If any dare to disagree
They're soon kicked to the curb.
The rest will heel at master's voice
Like obedient whipped curs.
Her speech may have been hateful
Doubtless many will agree
But speech must be protected
Or else none of us is free.
Where's our Voltaire with courage rare
to defy rank tyranny?
poem by John F. McCullagh
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
You hear about constitutional rights, free speech and the free press. Every time I hear these words I say to myself, 'That man is a Red, that man is a Communist!' You never hear a real American talk like that.
quote by Frank Hague
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When the public's right to know is threatened, and when the rights of free speech and free press are at risk, all of the other liberties we hold dear are endangered.
quote by Christopher Dodd
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Marks on paper are free - free speech - press - pictures all go together I suppose.
quote by Georgia O'Keeffe
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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On Paper. Not In Reality.
Don't be foolish.
Of course you are entitled to your opinion.
Aren't we living in a society,
That welcomes free speech?
'Yes...
But it seems to me that...'
Next! ?
'I thought you said we live in a society,
That welcomes free speech? '
On paper.
Not in reality.
I've 'earned' my free speech.
Haven't you noticed how I select my words?
Only 'then' are you free to do so as well.
Next?
I will take two more opinions,
And that will be it!
No...
Not yours.
The good looking one,
From the state of Connecticut!
May I have your opinion, please?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Big Brother He Is Listening
His ears are ever vigilant be careful of what you do say
Big Brother he is listening from you he's never far away
Your words he may put a slant on and one word in the wrong place
Could see you in deep trouble the court you might have to face.
The Government allows free speech free to a point maybe
But when mere words can land you in trouble that does not seem free to me
And big brother is listening and he hears what he wants to hear
The best way of freedom curtailment is the weapon known as fear
And big brother he takes note every time you speak your mind
And if he sees something he does not like in trouble yourself you will find
He is the Government watchdog your words can see you in jail
Big brother is always watching you he even checks your mail.
Big brother he is listening even when your friends you phone
And even those who live on their own in truth are not alone
For big brother is with them though him they cannot see
He remains as invisible and few as treacherous as he.
poem by Francis Duggan
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The US constitution's First Amendment rights only cover Americans, but I believe that in a democracy the competition of ideas and free speech should combat beliefs that it does not agree with - more speech and debate, not censorship.
quote by Joichi Ito
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What I'm thinking about more and more these days is simply the importance of transparency, and Jefferson's saying that he'd rather have a free press without a government than a government without a free press.
quote by Esther Dyson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Make no laws whatever concerning speech, and speech will be free; so soon as you make a declaration on paper that speech shall be free, you will have a hundred lawyers proving that "freedom does not mean abuse, nor liberty license"; and they will define and define freedom out of existence. Let the guarantee of free speech be in every man's determination to use it, and we shall have no need of paper declarations. On the other hand, so long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.
quote by Voltairine de Cleyre
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Both free speech rights and property rights belong legally to individuals, but their real function is social, to benefit vast numbers of people who do not themselves exercise these rights.
quote by Thomas Sowell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Criticism of government finds sanctuary in several portions of the 1st Amendment. It is part of the right of free speech. It embraces freedom of the press.
quote by Hugo Black
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It should be clear by now that my focus here is not freedom of speech or the press. This freedom is all too often an exaggeration. At the very least, blind references to freedom of speech or the press serve as a distraction from the critical examination of other communications policies.
quote by Mark Lloyd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Detainee!
detainee...
uncharged,
no rights to speedy trial....
subversive? radical?
or just daring to defy?
citizen? cant happen?
mowed down by the machine...
they do it in China all the time!
freedom of speech....
as long as you say the right words!
bill of rights?
as long as you can
afford their freedom!
corporate army....
armed thugs!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Fear of serious injury alone cannot justify oppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.
quote by Louis D. Brandeis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No Speech
O.k. ready to take off
Do it slow
Im living on the bottom
I got to go
Five little fingers
Grabbing at the glass
Gone, those days
Now Im running
Up and down in my cage
Too late to defend, Im buried - insane
Dont you know theres more to life than to win
Are you that kind of stereotype?
Its no time, theres no time
Theres nothing I could answer
No speech
As long (as) I get nothing
No speech
As long (as) I get nothing
But I want to get home
Let me free, this is not my home
Put away your flashing stick
Dont try to get closer-through my head
Give me a little bit more of your own
A little more, dont wanna be
Anybodys clown
Too late to defend, Im buried - insane
Dont you know theres more to life than to win
Are you that kind of stereotype ?
Its no time, theres no time
Theres nothing I could answer
No speech
As long (as) I get nothing
No speech
As long (as) I get nothing
But I want to get home
Let me free, this is not my home
No speech
As long (as) I get nothing
No speech
As long (as) I get nothing
But I want to get home
Let me free, this is not my home
song performed by by Fuel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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While even pornography is protected as free speech, the courts have consciously undermined religious speech and freedom of religion for years.
quote by Ernest Istook
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Down With The Thief!
Thump goes the speech, slanted at the crowd,
We profoundly undergo changes from this message.
To scrawl on the wall for benefits and facts
Perplexes the youth, let the speech be free of illness.
Empty is the talk, empty are the pockets of boys
Who steal knowledge from the brave and the old
Can be free.
Monsters pronounce the names,
Speech buries us under the ground.
For the conversation spills into speech,
And water transforms into ice
That cannot be drunk.
Thumping speeches have a message for the crowd
That thieves cannot master.
poem by Naveed Akram
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Free Speech!
free speech....
as long as you comply,
as long as what you say
is profitable... for them...
as long as what you say
doesnt ruffle feathers...
as long as what you say
isnt the truth....
free speech....
in spite of, irregardless of,
because we must....
because if we dont,
it goes away!
free speech...
whatever the cost!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Oh! ...Those First Amendment Rights
The advocates of free speech!
And, oh! ...those first amendment rights they seek.
With a doing to smear beliefs of others.
Don't you just love the way they use the media to do this?
To express the freedoms to address their druthers,
And at the expense of ruining lives.
So refreshing isn't it?
To know someone can dispense their wickedness.
And use the 'LAW' to get away with it.
To invite a manifesting of worldwide animosity,
Should be a goal and a priority...
Everyone self-righteous should want to achieve.
Free speech speakers on their soapboxes 'miked'...
Feel an entitlement to do what they please and like,
To destroy and destruct over the airwaves or in movies...
Day and night to incite humanity and collect abundantly,
From unknown donors with an inflicting of this mental disease.
But any amendment by law that encourages a dminishing,
Such reconsider what rights people use freely...
To purposely abuse the dignities of others,
With a doing it to whomever and wherever they please.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Freedom Is Not Free
Per an erudite analysis of my country's history,
One thing is sure… my freedom is not free!
I do what I want and criticize those who lead.
My rights are assured because they're decreed.
These rights were purchased with blood and tears
By my forefathers and soldiers today who, through death and fears,
Have had the courage to fight for rights they believed
Were and are necessary to maintain freedom they conceived.
These rights I demand and the freedoms I assume
Are in fact not automatic and can easily spell doom.
If I'm too busy with my little world to care about my nation,
My leaders' own self interest can only lead to devastation.
My rights have obligations to keep me and my country free
If I'm too busy to exercise them, I'll be part of a tremulous tragedy.
poem by Gregory Huyette
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The Iraqi Free Press, which did not exist 18 months ago because there was no such thing as the Iraqi Free Press, broke a story about the U.N. Oil-for-Food scandal, which could potentially turn out to be the largest scandal in history.
quote by Chris Chocola
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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