This just in: It is illegal to yell “fire!” in a crowded theater when there is, in fact, no fire. This comes from the Supreme Court saying that free speech doesn’t mean you can speak in a way that causes harm to others.
If this is true…does it only apply to theaters or the word “fire”?
How about telling people that if they evacuate a hurricane evacuation zone, FEMA will confiscate their homes? Republican are saying this a people are staying home when they should get out of town.
How about telling people that the reason your home was destroyed by a hurricane is because Democrats can control the weather? Republicans are saying this to demonize and create hate between people of different political beliefs.
How about telling people not to wear masks during a global pandemic?
How about telling people that vaccines are just a government plot?
How about telling people to get ready to war against their neighbor should Trump not win the next election?
How about telling people that people with different color skin than yours are eating your pets?
I could go on and on and on.
For me, there is no difference. The Republican Party is yelling some version of “fire” in ways that are harmful and dangerous.
Last night I was watching the Weather Channel as they gave out warnings and updates about the latest hurricane. “If you stay home, you may be killed.”
I switched to CNN and got more of the same information. Then Biden came on and pointed at Republicans like Trump and MTG. He told them to “stop it” in reference to the lies and false information they were propogating.
Next, I flipped over to Fox where they were saying, “We just want Kamala to stop funneling money from FEMA funds to illegal immigrants. This is a false statement. Fox knows it’s false but they get paid by having high viewership so they put it on because angry viewers gobble it up.
On a plane last Sunday, I sat next to the president of a Christian university that was severely damaged by hurricane Helene. He said the following:
- The private sector was great. They were out in force to help their neighbors. You could tell by the number of helicopters that were all over the place helping people. FEMA was nowhere around. He knew FEMA wasn’t there because “I would know a military helicopter if I saw one.” I wanted to ask him why so many mountain people had their own helicopters and why were they all equipped and trained in Search and Rescue. But I stayed quiet.
- I mentioned that the biggest newspaper in the state and his state’s governor both publicly stated how FEMA and the federal government were really stepping up to the plate and helping everyone. He said, “Of course they say that. If they don’t, Biden will cut off help.”
- He went on to tell me that private Christian schools like his were important because “No one else is going to teach today’s kids the morality they need to learn.”
This was a university president. I just nodded and pondered what it must feel like to be inside of a cult.
What can I do about this? What can you do?
My best advice is to vote.
Time to save the world.
Up, up and away…
Jim
