Independence Day 2023
a year ago
Once more it's that time of year, where US citizens reflect back on how a tax on tea broke the camel's back and started a war for independence. And in the current day, it creates a need on the genetic level for fireworks and backyard grilling.
The anger at taxation without representation led to the birth of a new nation. One that respects the rights of those speaking to power. One which would engage in a bloody civil war to end the egregious act of slavery within its own borders, while 167 countries today still practice the act. One that places the burden of proof upon the accuser. Though there are plenty of forces at work desperate to turn all the courts into the kangaroo variety.
Among our rights, the right to speak freely is the most important, and only just above the right to defend oneself. But this right to speak is seen as the most dangerous to people in power. It's why they'll censor others or ban them off platforms. And this is usually done by claiming those proponents of free speech are bigots, racists, or whichever slur or insult will be most expedient in eliminating them. Regardless of intention, censorship is always the greater evil.
They claim, "your speech is dangerous! It's hurting people who have the thinnest of skins!" To that I respond, it's not my problem. They need to learn that people with different opinions exist, regardless of how much they don't like it.
The only time speech should be restricted is when it openly calls for violence. (Pay no attention to the cities in flames or left leaning politicians egging on their constituents) Whereas ridiculing or mocking the absurd is far from violence. But tyrants are not known for their sense of humor. The very act of mocking them or the things they hold dear is basically sacrilege. In many ways, truth and humor are the scariest things of all to a tyrant. Not just because it means they or their beliefs are being mocked, but because humor often holds a grain of truth. And that mix of humor and truth will spread like wildfire. It's why memes are so viral. I'd say that's the main reason why those free speech lovin' admins on FA decided to delete a few of my images recently. No surprise, I was told that I was an istaphobe and a bad boy for not submitting to the propaganda. Perhaps I should take Eric July's advice, and monetize my haters.
Since it's only a matter of time before I get banned off of FA, as their rules become more arbitrary and anti-regular people, I've decided to make a twitter account. I know, here I was talking about sacrilege and I do this. But if you type in https://twitter.com/CyborgCollie then I should pop up. All I have up there at the moment is my 4th of July image. So follow me to enjoy future pieces that pop up there. And if you hate me so much you want to comment on my stuff, then great! It means my stats will go up.
Have a Happy Independence Day! I'm gonna go nurse this cold and hopefully not hack all over people at our cookout tomorrow.
The anger at taxation without representation led to the birth of a new nation. One that respects the rights of those speaking to power. One which would engage in a bloody civil war to end the egregious act of slavery within its own borders, while 167 countries today still practice the act. One that places the burden of proof upon the accuser. Though there are plenty of forces at work desperate to turn all the courts into the kangaroo variety.
Among our rights, the right to speak freely is the most important, and only just above the right to defend oneself. But this right to speak is seen as the most dangerous to people in power. It's why they'll censor others or ban them off platforms. And this is usually done by claiming those proponents of free speech are bigots, racists, or whichever slur or insult will be most expedient in eliminating them. Regardless of intention, censorship is always the greater evil.
They claim, "your speech is dangerous! It's hurting people who have the thinnest of skins!" To that I respond, it's not my problem. They need to learn that people with different opinions exist, regardless of how much they don't like it.
The only time speech should be restricted is when it openly calls for violence. (Pay no attention to the cities in flames or left leaning politicians egging on their constituents) Whereas ridiculing or mocking the absurd is far from violence. But tyrants are not known for their sense of humor. The very act of mocking them or the things they hold dear is basically sacrilege. In many ways, truth and humor are the scariest things of all to a tyrant. Not just because it means they or their beliefs are being mocked, but because humor often holds a grain of truth. And that mix of humor and truth will spread like wildfire. It's why memes are so viral. I'd say that's the main reason why those free speech lovin' admins on FA decided to delete a few of my images recently. No surprise, I was told that I was an istaphobe and a bad boy for not submitting to the propaganda. Perhaps I should take Eric July's advice, and monetize my haters.
Since it's only a matter of time before I get banned off of FA, as their rules become more arbitrary and anti-regular people, I've decided to make a twitter account. I know, here I was talking about sacrilege and I do this. But if you type in https://twitter.com/CyborgCollie then I should pop up. All I have up there at the moment is my 4th of July image. So follow me to enjoy future pieces that pop up there. And if you hate me so much you want to comment on my stuff, then great! It means my stats will go up.
Have a Happy Independence Day! I'm gonna go nurse this cold and hopefully not hack all over people at our cookout tomorrow.
and also followed on twitter now
There are obviously finer points of this that could be discussed. If you'd like to discuss those, feel free.
Call me a troll all you want. I actually like and respect you. You seem to actually think about things, even though I might frequently disagree with the conclusions you come to. I also don't choose to attempt to insult you. Sorry that you don't feel the same way.
celebrate the independence of your nation by blowing up a small part of it.
The "offensive" images are safe and sound on Atticus' DA page! And unlike here, I don't think those two pics are going anywhere. ;)
Unless the DA mods suffer a rush of shit to the brains...
Backup, save and archive everything.
Let's see the FagAffinity Stasi censor this.
They might be able to silence us here, in their little insulated echo chamber, but we will always be out there on other platforms, middle fingers hoisted on high and lips unrestrained, and that fact alone terrifies these people more than any threat of violence ever could.
So, here's to independence day and to all those out there that refuse to fall in line!
P.S. This site really needs a way to fave these Journals!
Venezuela is a perfect modern example, Argentina is learning that lesson hard, which they should have known already, but oh sweet sweet government checks, amirite?
My kind aren't the best by any stretch of the imagination, in fact us camel-jockeys have a lot to learn about human decency and minding our own business (I'm Persian for the record, not Arabian). But I will say that at least the people are happy to be Emirati and love their nation and culture, and certainly protect their children against the rainbow rot.
I saw the same in Thailand. People are happy to be Thai, love their Buddhist temples and their monarchs and embrace their culture with joy.
America is exceptional, no two way about it. If you work hard and mind your business well, you will succeed. I'm reminded of Will Benteen's speech at Gerald O'Hara's funeral in Gone with the Wind:
America cannot be beaten from the outside by any force on Earth. But it can be beaten from the inside by the rot of the people who hate this country.
Let us not fall for the siren song of socialism, we've seen throughout history that it only destroys, never edifies.
Our country has never really stood for the ideals which it aspired to, and I choose to adhere to those ideals rather than salute a rag that stands for the hypocrisy.
But that's how I feel. Don't listen to me, listen to someone who put it much more eloquently than I ever could, Frederick Douglass, as he said more than a century and a half ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0b.....tU08&t=30s
Also, hate speech is not free speech. It has real world consequences. Your hateful and polemic commentary can't hide behind "Humor" to get a pass. Real world consequences, such as stochastic terrorism. But you obviously either don't realize this or you support it. That's why your art gets yanked and why your journals get deleted, and why you've been repeatedly suspended. It's because of the hate and lies you've promoted, not your imagined "Truth telling".
Your hiding behind the idea of free speech here has the same deep flaw that libertarians such as Musk hide behind. You either don't get or don't wish to acknowledge the actual text and meaning of the first amendment. It refers to THE GOVERNMENT restricting speech, not private parties, such as the ability and obligation of websites like Twitter or FA to restrict speech as they deem fit for the general health of the community and the discourse. FA chooses to draw a line at blatant hate, and they're pretty generous with this.
I think that Twitter may be a good fit for you when you get yourself banned from here, -and I have no doubt that you inevitably will at this point- as Twitter is becoming ever more irrelevant and right wing, much as yourself.
Every flag, every nation, every civilization has a bloody history. Everything you've said about America can be applied to every nation, country, tribe, etc. I assume you must hate all of humanity and every nation, country, tribe, etc. in existence.
I look at you, and I see a very toxic person.
You're entitled to your opinion, but I consider myself to be against the toxicity of hate everywhere. Opposing hate and hateful right wing ideology is the opposite of toxic, as far as I can see. I'm for universal love and respect, not domination and oppression.
Exactly what is making me toxic here? I just don't see it.
That's the impression I get from you, and your interactions.
I can promise you, every form of civilization has had some form of bloodshed or atrocity, but you may not know about it. What's that saying about History? It's written by the victors.
You may not believe this, but if you actually look at my interactions with people across this site you'd find that what I'm saying is true. There are even a number of very conservative folks here that understand this, and realize that just because I might disagree with something that they say sometimes I can still like them as people, and the respect seems mutual.
History is indeed written by the "Victors" as it has been here in the US by the bigots and white supremacists who imagine that they've won anything by their oppression of the poor or minorities. But not every society has held such views or subscribed to such illusory black or white dualities. A number of American indigenous societies immediately come to mind. The lie that they were all "Warlike" has been disproven. They weren't one monolithic whole. You also clearly underestimate my understanding of history.
Some of your comments can be viewed as being rather toxic or hateful or rude towards others, and gives off the "I am always right and I am never wrong" vibe.
I can see why people may come to that conclusion about me, and of course I'm aware of that. All I can do is try to say what I mean as clearly as I can, and I always welcome discussion and pushback. I'm happy to agree to disagree where it comes to matters of opinion, or to back up what I say with documented facts where applicable. I'm certainly aware that I don't know everything, but I have learned a lot of things and come to some strong and well justified opinions over the years, and I'm pretty good at researching things I don't know about and separating the truth from the disinformation, lies, propaganda, and BS.
I know not everyone is going to agree with me, and sometimes I'm deliberately provocative. But I'm happy to back that up with my justification for doing so, and that's also usually in reaction to something that someone has said that I consider provocative as well. I don't expect to change minds, although I may sometimes hope to. At worst, with spirited, reasonable, and non-insulting discussions both parties can sharpen their arguments.
It sounds like FA's choice to exercise its own free speech is hurting people with some pretty thin skin indeed. But you're right it's not my problem you're mad about that and I am glad you are learning people have other opinions :)