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The Espionage Act was crafted in 1917 -- because President Woodrow Wilson wanted a war and, faced with the troublesome First Amendment, wished to criminalize speech critical of his war. In the run-up to World War One, there were many ordinary citizens -- educators, journalists, publishers, civil rights leaders, union activists -- who were speaking out against US involvement in the war. The Espionage Act was used to round these citizens by the thousands for the newly minted 'crime' of their exercising their First Amendment Rights.
Originally posted by mydarkpassenger
reply to post by DimensionalDetective
Starred and flagged!
We had better guard our freedoms jealously, and intently, or they will all be taken from us.
Originally posted by lostviking
reply to post by Myendica
Any of us with dissenting views are criminals under the Patriot Act and the Espionage Act. Hell, I'm on every government watch list because I vote Libertarian.
They can't jail all of us. Thank goodness we still have the right to bear arms....we may actually need to use them someday. I am sure this post just got the FBI's attention. Hi guys!!!! Patriots keep on.....
edit on 12-12-2010 by lostviking because: oops
Presidential candidate Eugene Debs received a ten-year prison sentence in 1918 under the Espionage Act for daring to read the First Amendment in public. The roundup of ordinary citizens -- charged with the Espionage Act -- who were jailed for daring to criticize the government was so effective in deterring others from speaking up that the Act silenced dissent in this country for a decade.
Originally posted by zroth
Originally posted by mydarkpassenger
reply to post by DimensionalDetective
Starred and flagged!
We had better guard our freedoms jealously, and intently, or they will all be taken from us.
Too late.
All of the precedents are set brand you a terrorist.
The founding fathers are referred to as terrorists.
It is game over.
Keep consuming wares and content and paying taxes and you can live the happy life authorized for you.
Peace