What happened to freedom of speech?

Published 12:07 am Sunday, December 10, 2006

It is hard to believe that someone would want to shut down the Truthmaster’s Tabloid because of what I wrote in it. It appears that Noam Chomsky hit the nail on the head when he said that the people running our country hate democracy. It looks like freedom of speech is OK only so long as you agree with those in power. Has America lost her soul already? I did not grow up in this kind of America, and I did not spend six years in a communist prison camp defending an America like this. What has happened to my country?

This cannot be America. I know that some want the Truthmaster to go down due to his position on some issues. I also know that some disagree with my position on President Bush. Some still support Bush’s invasion of Iraq, even though most Americans don’t.

I don’t know who could have threatened those who print Harrison Lewis’ tabloid, but I do know this: It is time for true Americans to speak out against the travesty that happened to him. Not only has this act interfered with his constitutional right to exercise free speech, it has also interfered with his constitutional right to conduct a lawful business. Whoever did this has discriminated against him and has interfered with his constitutional right to assemble. Wouldn’t our federal government just love to get involved in this one?

Maybe it’s time for Craig Ziemba to step forward and actively defend Harrison Lewis’ right to free speech. It is inconceivable that Mr. Ziemba will remain silent once he becomes aware of what happened to Harrison. Mr. Ziemba says that he is a champion of American values, especially that of freedom of speech.

While the North Vietnamese tortured me and while I rotted in a North Vietnamese communist prison for six years, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that something like this could ever happen in America. I cannot think of a more un-American act than to deprive an American citizen of his right to free speech. Also, I cannot think of a more cowardly way to do so than to do so while concealing one’s identity. What an un-American and cowardly travesty.



Robert Wideman

Meridian