Saturday, April 17, 2010

We Hold These Words

The Declaration of  Independence

Former President Bill Clinton — whom we all know as a champion of political accountability, an exemplar of good governance, and a staunch defender of the traditional liberties of the American people — has weighed in on the tendency of some of his fellow countrymen to abuse their right of free speech.

In advance of the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, Mr. Clinton felt the need to warn conservatives, particularly “extremists” having Tea Party tendencies, to be careful of what they say. He “insisted he wasn’t trying to restrict free speech, but…”

According to the AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton warned of a slippery slope from angry anti-government rhetoric to violence like the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, saying “the words we use really do matter.”

The two-term Democratic president insisted he wasn’t trying to restrict free speech, but in remarks Friday he said incendiary language can be taken the wrong way by some Americans. He drew parallels to words demonizing the government before Oklahoma City.

[…]

“I’m glad they’re fighting over health care and everything else. Let them have at it. But I think that all you have to do is read the paper every day to see how many people there are who are deeply, deeply troubled,” he said.

[…]

“By all means keep fighting, by all means, keep arguing,” he said. “But remember, words have consequences as much as actions do, and what we advocate, commensurate with our position and responsibility, we have to take responsibility for. We owe that to Oklahoma City.”

Mr. President: I, too, am “deeply, deeply troubled”. And words do matter.

At the risk of putting myself on a DHS or FBI watch list, I offer the following words, which were written by a fellow Virginian a while back (my emphasis):
- - - - - - - - -
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

I stand in solidarity Thomas Jefferson.

I, too, believe the current federal system should not be abolished for light and transient causes. Our task, as patriotic Americans living in parlous times, is to determine when these causes have in fact become weighty and permanent.

Like Mr. Jefferson, I am disposed to suffer evils while they are sufferable rather than to abolish the forms to which we are accustomed. But when does a long train of abuses and usurpations become too long?

When we reach that point, it becomes my right — no, my duty — to throw off such a government, and to provide new protections for my future security.

If these words constitute a slippery slope, then I’m already at the bottom of it. Put the cuffs on me and take me away.


Hat tip: Fjordman.

10 comments:

In Hoc Signo Vinces† said...

In hoc signo vinces

The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing had some allegedly vague links to this side of the Atlantic so I read.

Takuan Seiyo said...

Baron,
May I convey the support of America’s First Lady and current Talleyrand: “I am sick and tired”.

History Snark said...

Yes, there were ties to the far side of the Atlantic. Since clinton once again brings up the ghost of Oklahoma City, I'll once again beat the drum for an excellent book on the bombing: "The Third Terrorist" by Jayna Davis. Ms. Davis was one of the first TV news reporters on the scene, and did some incredible investigative work in the months following the bombing.

There is far too much evidence accumulated by Ms. Davis to even recap it here. My suggestion would be to find the book and read it. And then ask yourself who was more likely to lie- the government, or the 20 or so sworn witnesses she interviewed.

sheik yer'mami said...

The Despicable Clintoons

http://sheikyermami.com/2010/04/17/the-despicable-clintoons/

Papa Whiskey said...

One of the things I most clearly remember about Bill Clinton's presidency is his comportment on Sunday, August 18, 1996 -- the day after nine people were killed in the crash of a C-130 carrying security gear from Jackson Hole, Wyo. (where he had been vacationing), to New York City (where he was to kick off his re-election campaign with a 50th birthday party and fund-raiser). Clinton pronounced himself "sad and shocked" by the deaths of nine people in his personal service, but he was neither too sad nor too shocked -- nor too respectful -- to forbear from promptly flying to New York and partying hearty that night with his supporters and sycophants.

A selfish, narcissistic slimeball.

Anonymous said...

Well, when being part of a polity gets you no benefits, why not withdraw support from said polity? And I don't get why what Clit-on says matters - I mean, he is a proved pathological liar. White Americans have no reason to support the US government.

Mad Dog Gazza said...

Its funny how even a short sojourn in the desert can drive men like Timothy McVeigh to a state of delusion. One wonders then how badly Mahound and his merry band of ar*elifters were affected.

sheik yer'mami said...

This rags to riches hillbilly enriched himself beyond anyones wildest dreams. Willie Clitman was always a clown for the Arabs, and apart from being totally incompetent & corrupt he was the first who went to the Arabs during the cartoon rage affair and said 'the cartoons shouldn't have been printed' blah blah.
The Arabs stuffed him with money, thank you very much.

What's worse than this turd are those who elected him, just like Obama. There are people who don't even understand the 1st amendment.

Svartwulf said...

Much longer and we may not have to as how much is too much in the ways of governmental despotism. The whole thing will collapse and take the world with it.

The we shall see the metal of men.

Norse Alchemist aka Thorkell the Tall

EscapeVelocity said...

Rush Limbaugh: “I have a question: How come we’re supposed to draw (on the basis of no evidence), a connection between conservatism and terrorism, conservative ideology and terrorism? Where is that connection? Yet we are told we must reject, despite tons of evidence, the connection between Islamist ideology and terrorism. So we can’t call Islamist fundamentalists ‘terrorists.’ We can’t even use the word. But we can have ex-presidents and current presidents running around trying to associate conservatives with nonexistent terrorism at peaceful tea parties. Somebody needs to explain this to me…

Linky

Remember boys and girls: Major Hasan was just a lone nutter...and his mass murder of American soldiers at the base in Foot Hood had nothing to do with Islam.