1. Jihad Against Free Speech
First Day of Spring 2013
In most of the world, free speech is quarantined to the point of it being regarded as a
crime against the state punishable by imprisonment, and a possible death sentence.
A foundation of the US is ʻfree speechʼ protected by the First Amendment to the
United States Constitution. Free speech is a sacred value that has been threatened
by various forms of fear though out history even to the point of calling it blasphemy
or sedition against the governing powers be it political, religion, and an insurrection
against the established order.
Jihad is a term from the Islamic culture that, while being open to different ways of using the word,
basically means ʻstruggleʼ. A common use is regarded as ʻa holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a
religious duty, or a personal struggle in devotion to Islam especially involving spiritual discipline. In the
Western world, in particular, itʼs identified with ʻterrorismʼ. As President George Bush inferred many times,
itʼs hostile activity against our freedoms and rights. Jihad can take many forms, some being positive, but
popularly considered among millions to be an attack on our rights as citizens who
stand for ʻlife, liberty, and the pursuit of happinessʼ.
Around twenty years ago, I made a decision to exercise the rights granted by the
First Amendment starting with one white dry erase board in Venice Beach, California
on the famous boardwalk, which is the most visited place of free expression in the
world. After 13 years of what the LA Times said were over ten million visitors a year,
I had quite a display provoking a ʻchallenge to thoughtʼ with many free speech
boards. Since 2007, Iʼve relocated to the open minded-artistic, tourist town in
Washington State, called Port Townsend where I continue to exercise the guarantee
of the amendment, while doing the ʻworldʼs largest free speechʼ display as a ʻbell
weatherʼ for world free expressiveness.
Thomas Jefferson, our third President was considered to be the mentor and inspiration to James
Madison, our 4th President who wrote the First Amendment. Our ʻFounding Fathersʼ felt that free speech
was an inalienable and sacred right. The reason for forming our country really was about escaping the
ʻcensorshipʼ in Europe both politically and of religion.
Inspite of many, many people who object to ʻfree speechʼ still, there are many, many who know that it,
along with the Second Amendmentʼs right to bear arms, is the cornerstone of our growing, evolving
democracy.
Censorship of ʻfree speechʼ does meet a ʻstealth jihadʼ throughout the world, and sadly is always under
threat both in the media to the free speech I do in public. Those who are against it, hide from
transparency to squash its proliferation by many ʻcovert meansʼ that protects their fearful and egotistical
agendas. With the negative side of Islamic ideology spreading in the world posturing its ʻsharia lawʼ that is
seditious to our laws and rights, ʻfree speechʼ is quietly under attack through fear of reprisal. Never
succumb to negative forces that ʻspinʼ their fears to disallow you to speak freely. Be an activist of ʻfree
speechʼ to help provoke others to wake up, and think about ways to make it a more conscious, loving
world. We fight wars to protect our rights as citizens of a freer, and more evolving world.
# # # # Yesss Self Love Center
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