“If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.” — Noam Chomsky
Samual Johnson | Patriotism is the Last Refugee of a Scoundrel
While observing all the talking, shouting and letters written to the editor in recent days on the topic of free speech, I was reminded of the many chats I had with Dad in our family garage while I was growing up. One particular discussion stuck with me where he explained his service in the Marines protected people’s freedom to burn the America flag, but also protected his right to tell them they are wrong. My dad understood that anyone can support speech they like, but it takes a real man or woman to support speech you hate. What an amazing country we live in, allowing its citizens the freedom of thought and expression.
Roger Gitlin and the Save our State crowd are prime examples of what Samuel Johnson so eloquently stated: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Even 200 years ago, Johnson saw right though the manipulation of these self proclaimed plastic patriots who believe that dressing in red, white and blue waving American flags automatically makes their position somehow more American than others.
I never expected Gitlin or his people to understand the satire in my Feb. 6 column. I did however find it hilarious that he took my comments so literally that he felt compelled to address them individually. It was odd however when he publicly claimed not to engage in a war of words and instead enticed his followers to do his dirty work of sending in letters complaining to our friends at The Signal for him. This is not the first time Mr. Gitlin has played puppet master, either. Just a few days before the publishing of his Feb. 14 column, Save Our State launched a campaign to harass The Signal and hinder its freedom of press, not to mention attempt to get the “little bias SOB” Jonathan Randles fired. One would think self proclaimed patriots like Gitlin and the rest of his rodeo clowns believe in Jonathan Randles’ freedom of speech and The Signal’s freedom of press, but apparently Mr. Gitlin and his posse missed that day in patriot school.
I couldn’t help but think of John Locke’s gem, “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts” after observing Roger Gitlin the past few days. I think he missed his calling as a used car salesman as he attempts to sell the clunker of another Minutemen rally to the fair citizens of Santa Clarita. Mr. Gitlin does his best to paint his beloved Minutemen as boy scouts claiming they are a “multinational group that abides by the rule of law and whose members pledge a code of conduct.” Big surprise, this all powerful code of conduct didn’t stop the various documented physical threats various Santa Clarita citizen’s received did it Mr. Gitlin? It also didn’t stop Frank Jorge from making a sexually discriminating rant which was removed from The-Signal.com because of its vulgarity and content. And I hate to burst Mr. Gitlin’s bubble, but even the bankrupt energy juggernaut Enron had a code of conduct stating, “We are dedicated to conducting business according to all applicable local and international laws and regulations …” Just a guess, but I doubt they went with the “we have a code of conduct” defense in court. Mr. Gitlin goes further to say, “that no participant shall spew or act out any racially derogatory sentiment.” I am beginning to question whether he is aware people are videoing these rallies and putting them on the Internet.
Published In The Signal | February 26th
Mr. Gitlin and the “Save Our State” Minutemen crowd have a history of blowing into peaceful communities like Santa Clarita and bringing with them other unwanted outside extremist group opposition creating a spectacular three ring circus full of clowns pointing video cameras at each other, screaming emotional, irrational nonsense. Just ask the small town of Ojai off of Highway 126 whose residents eventually got fed-up and showed these guys the door. This is why I found Gitlin’s criticism of the wingnuts at Full Rights for Immigration Coalition busing in their bleeding heart from Los Angeles particularly rich, considering he has been working overtime to build his own plastic patriot brigade. Yeeehaaw!
Fact of the matter is The Signal has shown great maturity in handling the attacks which Roger Gitlin has provoked against it. It has shown immense grace in allowing Gitlin to publish an extra large, 1000-word column which came up just as empty as all the other letters to editor offering no viable solutions. He just echoed all the same illogical “Red Herring” fallacies which criticize people in the community who are powerless to do anything about the illegal immigration problems here in the SCV. If the state of California is powerless to enact its own solution, what makes him think small communities like Santa Clarita have an Ice Cube’s chance in hell? How about more solutions and less bullhorns, Mr. Gitlin?
“In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. The only weapon against bad ideas is better ideas.” ~Alfred Whitney Griswold, New York Times
More Empty Words From Gitlin
By ✖ the Monk ✖ on February 26th, 2010
Samual Johnson | Patriotism is the Last Refugee of a Scoundrel
While observing all the talking, shouting and letters written to the editor in recent days on the topic of free speech, I was reminded of the many chats I had with Dad in our family garage while I was growing up. One particular discussion stuck with me where he explained his service in the Marines protected people’s freedom to burn the America flag, but also protected his right to tell them they are wrong. My dad understood that anyone can support speech they like, but it takes a real man or woman to support speech you hate. What an amazing country we live in, allowing its citizens the freedom of thought and expression.
Roger Gitlin and the Save our State crowd are prime examples of what Samuel Johnson so eloquently stated: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Even 200 years ago, Johnson saw right though the manipulation of these self proclaimed plastic patriots who believe that dressing in red, white and blue waving American flags automatically makes their position somehow more American than others.
I never expected Gitlin or his people to understand the satire in my Feb. 6 column. I did however find it hilarious that he took my comments so literally that he felt compelled to address them individually. It was odd however when he publicly claimed not to engage in a war of words and instead enticed his followers to do his dirty work of sending in letters complaining to our friends at The Signal for him. This is not the first time Mr. Gitlin has played puppet master, either. Just a few days before the publishing of his Feb. 14 column, Save Our State launched a campaign to harass The Signal and hinder its freedom of press, not to mention attempt to get the “little bias SOB” Jonathan Randles fired. One would think self proclaimed patriots like Gitlin and the rest of his rodeo clowns believe in Jonathan Randles’ freedom of speech and The Signal’s freedom of press, but apparently Mr. Gitlin and his posse missed that day in patriot school.
I couldn’t help but think of John Locke’s gem, “I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts” after observing Roger Gitlin the past few days. I think he missed his calling as a used car salesman as he attempts to sell the clunker of another Minutemen rally to the fair citizens of Santa Clarita. Mr. Gitlin does his best to paint his beloved Minutemen as boy scouts claiming they are a “multinational group that abides by the rule of law and whose members pledge a code of conduct.” Big surprise, this all powerful code of conduct didn’t stop the various documented physical threats various Santa Clarita citizen’s received did it Mr. Gitlin? It also didn’t stop Frank Jorge from making a sexually discriminating rant which was removed from The-Signal.com because of its vulgarity and content. And I hate to burst Mr. Gitlin’s bubble, but even the bankrupt energy juggernaut Enron had a code of conduct stating, “We are dedicated to conducting business according to all applicable local and international laws and regulations …” Just a guess, but I doubt they went with the “we have a code of conduct” defense in court. Mr. Gitlin goes further to say, “that no participant shall spew or act out any racially derogatory sentiment.” I am beginning to question whether he is aware people are videoing these rallies and putting them on the Internet.
Published In The Signal | February 26th
Mr. Gitlin and the “Save Our State” Minutemen crowd have a history of blowing into peaceful communities like Santa Clarita and bringing with them other unwanted outside extremist group opposition creating a spectacular three ring circus full of clowns pointing video cameras at each other, screaming emotional, irrational nonsense. Just ask the small town of Ojai off of Highway 126 whose residents eventually got fed-up and showed these guys the door. This is why I found Gitlin’s criticism of the wingnuts at Full Rights for Immigration Coalition busing in their bleeding heart from Los Angeles particularly rich, considering he has been working overtime to build his own plastic patriot brigade. Yeeehaaw!
Fact of the matter is The Signal has shown great maturity in handling the attacks which Roger Gitlin has provoked against it. It has shown immense grace in allowing Gitlin to publish an extra large, 1000-word column which came up just as empty as all the other letters to editor offering no viable solutions. He just echoed all the same illogical “Red Herring” fallacies which criticize people in the community who are powerless to do anything about the illegal immigration problems here in the SCV. If the state of California is powerless to enact its own solution, what makes him think small communities like Santa Clarita have an Ice Cube’s chance in hell? How about more solutions and less bullhorns, Mr. Gitlin?
Tagged with: Frank Jorge, Illegal Aliens, Illegal Immigration, Minute Men, Roger Gitlin, Santa Clarita, The Signal, Undocumented Immigratants.
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