Re: The Lady speaks

["Richard & Cynthia Davies" <davies@maine.rr.com>]

My point with that statement is this: the guys who wrote the Constitution 
wrote the first amendment so that you wouldn't *have* remain anonymous to
say what you wanted, particularly about the government itself. They wanted
people to be able to speak up, without having to hide, and without fear of
*governmental* retribution. It is my personal belief that speaking from
behind fake identities goes against the spirit, but *not* the letter of this
amendment.

Anyone can certainly withhold their identity and obviously within their
legal rights to do so. But they should not be surprised when people mistrust
or disbelieve them.

I would like to point out, Snoopy, that I have not accused you of being one
and the same with LadyNada, Way Ray, etc. I have not done any email
investigation, and frankly, I couldn't care. I do not wish to add to your
anger that Greg has evoked, but I feel he has a valid point -- regardless of
the way in which he stated it.

Rich D.


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From: snoopy1@pig.net
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Subject: Re: The Lady speaks
Date: Thu, Mar 2, 2000, 6:39 PM


At 06:23 PM 3/2/00 -0500, Rich Davies wrote:

Freedom of speech is not about being able to make an anonymous statement
intended to muddy the water or inflame others; it's about having beliefs,
thoughts and ideas and *not* hiding when you proclaim them.

Rich D.

The First Amendment to the Constitution states:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof;or abriding the freedom of speech, or
of the press; or the right of the people  peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

It doesn't say we have to give or withhold our identity.  It says only that
Congress cannot make a law that restricts the freedom of speech.  As a
nation that after 200 years is still considered a "Great Experiment"
politically, we have enough experience as a nation to understand that our
freedom to speak as we will, within the law, is not to be relinquished just
because someone doesn't like the way we choose as individuals to express
ourselves.