Oh Arizona, what the fuck? You can't censor the American people and you can't censor the internet. How many free speech cases do we have to go through before the FCC, corporations like Clear Channel or groups like the American Family Association get the point?! In the United States you can't censor what people say or or think.
So, in light of that, I am fully against bullying, harassment or intimidation of any kind. Shit, I don't even like people I don't know talking to me. But, I don't support blanket, indiscriminate laws or regulations applying to such subjects when it's a clear violation of free speech. Even if that free speech is complete bullshit.
John Stuart Mill said,
"
If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
In other words, even if some says or thinks something so incredibly stupid that no one else holds that opinion, it's still not acceptable to silence that person. Even if it's just to reinforce the reality that the opposite opinions or actions are correct and right. And that asshole has no more right to do it to you!
So I pray that Arizona House Bill 2549 does not pass, or the kind of government that all the conservatives think is being imposed on us by the Obama administration will actually begin to be imposed on us by those same conservatives. Hmm... Rabble-B
The state of Arizona could find itself in the company of countries like China and Syria for censoring the Internet if the state's governor signs a bill recently passed by the legislature.
Arizona House Bill 2549, which is now on Gov. Jan Brewer's desk for signature, was created to counter bullying and stalking. The law would make it a crime to use any electronic or digital device to communicate using "obscene, lewd or profane language" or to suggest a lewd or lascivious act, if done with the intent to "terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend."
First Amendment rights group
Media Coalition, which
represents the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, the Association of American Publishers and other related groups, says the bill is not only a violation of the First Amendment, but is so far-ranging as to be preposterous.
In a letter to the governor, the coalition said while government can criminalize speech "that rises to the level of harassment, and many states have laws that do so," Arizona's legislation:
... takes a law meant to address irritating phone calls and applies it to communication on web sites, blogs, listserves and other Internet communication. H.B. 2549 is not limited to a one to one conversation between two specific people. The communication does not need to be repetitive or even unwanted. There is no requirement that the recipient or subject of the speech actually feel offended, annoyed or scared. Nor does the legislation make clear that the communication must be intended to offend or annoy the reader, the subject or even any specific person.
This bill isn't the first the legislature has tackled when it comes to regulating what's said -- or seen -- electronically. Another,
Senate Bill 1219, would let parents see the text messages on the phones of their children, if they're under the age of 18. That legislation remains in committee.
H.B. 2549 "would apply to the Internet as a whole, thus criminalizing all manner of writing, cartoons, and other protected material the state finds offensive or annoying," Media Coalition says on its website -- at least for now, until what it says is found to be offensive or annoying by those in Arizona.
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