By popular demand, readers can now post comments.
I'd disabled the feature because there's a variety of spammer who fishes for links on which to post commercial messages. I was receiving cosmetics ads for which I'd have to go under the hood to block access, etc.
Feel free to add comments or questions.
As a result of teaching First Amendment law I'm interested in the jewel of American law, the protection of the independent mind, the right to think freely as you wish, not as some authority outside your head prefers, such as, traditionally, government, church, culture, family pressure, etc.
First Amendment law provides the legal tools available to protect independence of thought, individuality, the right to inform oneself, to investigate, to form ones own conclusions, to publish them, even if others opposes.
The ongoing battle, of course, is that for every urge to speak there's someone who opposes your speaking either for the content of your message or the manner in which you choose to express it.
I've been compiling lists of the ways in which we like to express ourselves and a really ugly list of ways in which thought and expression have been controlled. Wiping out your clan is one, and enslaving your women and children is next.
By the time we approach the nearer end of our ban list, we see that the struggle is never ending between the person who wishes to express himself, or herself, and the forces who wish to prevent expression. In light of this, perhaps its a good thing we're now allowing comments to this site.
The First Amendment controls government efforts to control expression, I should point out, not me, since I'm a private guy. The First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law abridging" speech, press, etc. I'm not Congress.
The value of our right to think and speak freely is reflected in the creativity that has long been a hallmark of America. If we were washed away by a tsunami, the rest of the world would have to wonder how to replace our free-thinking example, for this is the best we have to offer the world, wouldn't you agree? You may not like the way we think, but you have to wish that you had the ability to think it, and express it. I think.