tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post2447095532831540971..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: First Amendment blog assault continues...Larry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-52145479673504916182010-06-27T08:41:58.589-04:002010-06-27T08:41:58.589-04:00Not exactly. The First Amendment is not a law. T...Not exactly. The First Amendment is not a law. The amendments are additional provisions of the Constitution that tell Congress the types of laws it can and cannot create. <br /><br />The First Amendment is not a law; it is a provision that states that the government can't make a law. In this case any law that would restrict religious freedom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-78867338741638936622010-06-25T11:26:52.457-04:002010-06-25T11:26:52.457-04:00Asking a (state) government agent for "clear ...<i>Asking a (state) government agent for "clear guidelines" about free expression is kind of like asking the fox to come up with organizational rules for the henhouse.</i><br /><br />And to bring Jefferson into the 21st Century (the words not in italics are mine, although the newspaper of his era was identical to the blog of today), there is this:<br /><br /> <i>"The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without </i>blogs<i> or </i>blogs<i> without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should </i>have access to<i> those </i> blogs<i> and be capable of reading them." --Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 1787. ME 6:57 </i>Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-57875444732075914122010-06-25T11:20:07.900-04:002010-06-25T11:20:07.900-04:00the First Amendment is a Federal Law
No, Larry --...<i>the First Amendment is a Federal Law</i><br /><br />No, Larry -- it is part of the CONSTITUTION, and thus takes precedence over all Federal Laws. It also takes precedence over all state laws and municipal ordinances and even UMass regulations...<br /><br /><i> enacted to prevent government--even lowly town government--from restricting the rights of 'The People and The Press' to voice their opinions. </i><br /><br />Jefferson said it better:<br /><br /><i>"The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure." --Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823. ME 15:491 </i><br /><br />Remember that the word "Censor" had a different meaning 200 years ago than it does now - then it was more a reference to the duties of the Roman Censors - and hence Thomas Jefforson's classic quote:<br /><br /><i>"No government ought to be without censors, and where the press is free, no one ever will. If virtuous, it need not fear the fair operation of attack and defence. Nature has given to man no other means of sifting out the truth whether in religion, law or politics. I think it as honorable to the government neither to know nor notice its sycophants or censors, as it would be undignified and criminal to pamper the former and persecute the latter." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1792. ME 8:406</i>Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-87080095133838890032010-06-23T22:20:59.855-04:002010-06-23T22:20:59.855-04:00I'm not the nitwit. I get paid for my work an...I'm not the nitwit. I get paid for my work and my business is still solvent. Try looking in the mirror.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-31255380125190379802010-06-22T07:37:32.673-04:002010-06-22T07:37:32.673-04:00You get what you pay for, Nitwit.You get what you pay for, Nitwit.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-82208100642058952682010-06-22T06:59:23.429-04:002010-06-22T06:59:23.429-04:00Lately, we don't get much. Your posts are dwi...Lately, we don't get much. Your posts are dwindling. Last updated 4 days ago. So much for the "new journalism."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-81512047901772943452010-06-21T10:46:12.766-04:002010-06-21T10:46:12.766-04:00Yeah, oldest saying in business is "you get w...Yeah, oldest saying in business is "you get what you pay for."Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-74176953560320669282010-06-21T10:41:33.728-04:002010-06-21T10:41:33.728-04:00It's funny you do this for free and someone ha...It's funny you do this for free and someone has the gall to call you lazy. People sure get entitled on the Internet. Remember when people had to pay for something in order to bitch about the service?S.P. Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14890128873734264889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-12147483806725960232010-06-20T18:22:06.012-04:002010-06-20T18:22:06.012-04:00Thanks.
Sometimes all it right with the world.....Thanks. <br /><br />Sometimes all it right with the world...at least my little part of it.Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-80996016980086201412010-06-20T17:51:02.320-04:002010-06-20T17:51:02.320-04:00Happy father's day Larry.Happy father's day Larry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-49489102150022904332010-06-18T17:00:31.384-04:002010-06-18T17:00:31.384-04:00Funny you should mention that.
On my way out th...Funny you should mention that. <br /><br />On my way out the door at this very moment--but will meet friends at Amherst Brewing Company first (before the pizza).Larry Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-83161321814872568992010-06-18T16:49:02.872-04:002010-06-18T16:49:02.872-04:00Coming this weekend:
The lazy blogger posts pictu...Coming this weekend:<br /><br />The lazy blogger posts pictures of his daughter eating pizza at the Taste of Amherst.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-77561410510042329482010-06-17T18:16:50.340-04:002010-06-17T18:16:50.340-04:00Prozac sucking primate.
(Feel free to use it).Prozac sucking primate.<br /><br /><br />(Feel free to use it).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-67089222771415666272010-06-17T17:38:52.829-04:002010-06-17T17:38:52.829-04:00If I lived in Shutesbury, I'd be embarrassed. ...If I lived in Shutesbury, I'd be embarrassed. <br />akabAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com