FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS!
Was it the intent of those good men who gave all they had that we should sit here, in front of our computers, and be subjected to the kind of filth that slithers over the screen at an ever-alarming rate? Do companies, in this instance, Amazon(with whom I and many other authors have done a LOT of business), have the right to sell a book under the guise of first amendment rights whose topic enslaves millions of children worldwide?
Is it a coincidence that John Walsh was on the morning news explaining that wealthy western countries are the source of so many pedophiles? Babies . . . yes, I said babies, some as young as five years old are being enslaved for the sole purpose of being a source of pleasure for pedophiles.
And all under the umbrella of FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS!
My heart broke this morning when I read the response from Amazon that it is taking the stand that it would be “censorship” to not sell a book because of the opinions expressed in the book.
Fox News is calling for a boycott that would hit Amazon where it would feel it, in the pocketbook at Christmas. And the only way to do that is to express our concerns, as writers, who may or may not have books for sale on Amazon. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
I understand this topic is a difficult one for us, as writers, but if we won’t stand up for the innocence of children, who will? Aren’t we the men and women who have changed history throughout civilization with our words? And though Amazon is such an important element in our business, what are we going to put first?
I ask each of you, whether you are a reader or a writer, where do you stand on this issue? What is your heart telling you?
I’d like to hear back from all of you.
AND TO ALL YOU VETERANS FOR HAVE GIVEN IT ALL FOR OUR RIGHT TO ARGUE OUR BELIEFS, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
The power of the viral groundswell already had power. As of ten last night Amazon had pulled the book.
ReplyDeleteWoot! The best news to hit cyberspace in a very long time. Thanks, Pam...
ReplyDeleteLinda, I agree with your comments completely and thank you for having the guts to share them. Thanks also to Pam, for letting us know Amazon pulled the book.
ReplyDeleteSoooo glad to hear voices were heard. Made me SICK!
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteThe way I feel is that yes, Amazon should be able to sell it. I do feel that first amendment rights shouldn't be based on moral positions, because if that were the case, whose morality gets to decide the first amendment rights? That's how other countries are run, that the morality/religion in power makes the laws about what can and can't be done. The beauty of America is that no one religion or moral perspective decides who can say what. We are all given the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
That said, WOOHOOO that they pulled it! I think our country worked exactly how it was supposed to. The government should NOT tell Amazon what they can sell, HOWEVER, the people have the freedom and right to boycott Amazon and force their hand. *grin* So the voice of the people have been heard and evil, in this area, has lost to the voice of Good.
Even the U.S. Supreme Court recognizes that the First Amendment free speech rights aren’t absolute. Obscenity, libel (at least where the writer has reason to know what it’s saying is untrue), and “fighting words” are all among the types of speech that can be regulated and limited. I don’t know anything about this particular book, so I don’t know whether it would withstand a First Amendment challenge. If it incites people to become pedophiles or qualifies as obscenity, it probably would not. Otherwise, it probably would. And much as I hate to say it, I don’t want the Supreme Court to draw the line too loosely, because then it could draw the same line when I write about religion or sexual morals or any other controversial subject. But I do want it to draw the line in extreme cases, and it does.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the First Amendment only applies to “government actors” and does not apply to Amazon. It has a perfect right to ban anything it wants. I’m happy to see that it listened to its customers and did just that.
Jessica I agree with you to a point, but the subject matter of this particular book goes beyond that. First, what it is advocating is a criminal act. When caught the abuser is convicted and sent to prison for the act. From then on he/she must register on an offender list on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I have many close friends who were abused as children and are now well into their adult years. They are still emotionally abused by what happened to them as children.
One in six adult men have been abused as children. One in four women. The suffering the kids go through has a very long reach. They are the true victims of these henious acts and a majority of sex offenders today were abused as kids. The chain reaction has to stop now.
This book has no place on any bookshelf, virtual or real.
Amen, my only disagreement is that companies should not have to be boycotted to make decisions that are moral. They should have the good of mankind first and profit second. When I saw those innocent faces on the news this morning, it made me sick. Who was protecting their rights??? to grow up without fear of being molested like they were just "things" instead of humans. I can't defend the right of a company to sell a book that endorses breaking the law. We propogate this insanity with our lack of taking stands on issues. If you don't stand up for something, you'll fall for everything. DON'T FALL! Thanks for the comment. It's great to hear different opinions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your service to our country, Linda! Happy Veteran's Day!
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