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New Zealand’s Handling Of Mosque Massacre Shows Why Americans Are Lucky
Hotair ^
| 03/18/2019
| Taylor Millard
Posted on 03/18/2019 7:42:06 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Freedoms of the press and speech are something which is near and dear to my heart. The ability for people to say what they want or broadcast what they want – without fear of government reprisal – is a key pillar of freedom and liberty. I may not like what someone posts on social media or expresses in a newspaper, blog, TV, or radio – but I will defend their ability to give an opinion or air their content.
The recent actions by the New Zealand government in light of last week’s horrific terrorist attack only solidify my point of view.
It is understandable why the Kiwis want to keep video of the attack from public consumption – as several people who have viewed the video have expressed horror by its content. Yet, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern has boldly crossed the line into censorship by dictating to Google, Instagram, and Facebook the videos must be removed – or they’ll face reprisals for violation the law.
“This is an issue that I will look to be discussing directly with Facebook,” Adern told reporters on Sunday when asked if Facebook should disable their live-streaming feature. A 22-year-old is under arrest for sharing footage of the attack, and those who post censored versions of the attack video will also be prosecuted. Sky New Zealand pulled Sky News Australia for showing the video, although it isn’t known if it was done at the behest of the government. One can guess they wanted to avoid running afoul of the country’s Office of Film and Literature Classification, who declared the video was not a freedom of speech or information issue.
This is the purest form of hogwash.
Americans are lucky to avoid this situation with the guaranteed protections in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The protections may have been whittled away at over the years – but they still exist. There’s nothing wrong with websites like Facebook or Google deciding to block videos of shootings or suspend accounts if they choose to – as long as it’s not by government edict. There are other websites out there for people to get their fix – or support freelance journalists – if it’s their desire. Individual companies should not be coerced by government officials to wipe away any trace of an attack like it didn’t happen (imagine if the same had been done over September 11th). The images and video are obviously unseemly – one reason why I refuse to watch it – but that’s my choice. The government shouldn’t make it for me.
Dangers still exist. President Donald Trump suggested the FCC or FEC should start looking into Saturday Night Live and late night talk shows. It’s doubtful he’s serious and more than likely just wants to gin up his most fervent supporters into a rhetorical frenzy.
The 2013 proposal by California U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein to define a “real journalist” was more serious. Feinstein suggested “real journalists” were only those who did work for what could be called “traditional news outlets” aka ABC, CNN, Fox, Huffington Post, or Reason – instead of those who ran their own individual blog. Feinstein’s amendment (which thankfully did not pass) would have made it extremely problematic for those who wish to independently post videos or content on Facebook or YouTube. There were similar fights in court over the filming of police arrests.
Perhaps the best – and worst – part of freedom of the press (and freedom of speech) is the fact it relies on individuals to determine what news they consume, and outlets to police their own. ABC was slow to fire Brian Ross for his many failures, while Brian Williams was only demoted from NBC to MSNBC for lying. How many people will now question anything Reuters’ reporter Joseph Menn writes on Beto O’Rourke – or any other candidate, for that matter – because he admitted to covering up O’Rourke’s involvement in a hacking group. Will Tucker Carlson face actual backlash – in the form of fewer viewers – for whatever it was he said on Bubba the Love Sponge? Freedom of speech and freedom of the press is a double-edged sword – but the idea it should be thrown away because an outlet decides to give journalists a slap on the wrist (or axe to the head) is something which should be resisted at all costs.
What happened in New Zealand is horrific. But deciding to punish those who display video or images of the attack is wrong. It is something which should be resisted in America, and the words of the First Amendment should not be ignored.
TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; christchurchshooting; massshooting; mosque; newzealand
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To: SeekAndFind
“.... Why Americans Are Lucky” For now. The forces of evil want very badly to be able to simply say—
“That’s no longer legal!”
“Possession of that can lead to 10 years in jail.” And, like rust, they never sleep.
Bill Of Rights? LOL! Sorry, that is from a bygone era.
2
posted on
03/18/2019 7:47:31 AM PDT
by
rktman
( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
To: SeekAndFind
Generally agreed, but I do like the gov’t policy of not allowing the terrorist’s face to be shown.
These guys should get no publicity at all - no name, name pics; hang them and cremate them and throw the ashes into a cess pool.
3
posted on
03/18/2019 7:50:12 AM PDT
by
budj
(combat vet, 2nd of 3 generations)
To: SeekAndFind
I got $5 that says that photo was taken at least an hour after it was all over.
To: SeekAndFind
“... Don’t forget this FACT: The man who attacked a mosque in New Zealand Friday wrote the name of a little girl killed in a 2017 terrorist attack on his rifle, justifying his own attack as revenge for her death.
Alleged gunman, 28-year-old Australian man Brenton Tarrant, attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 49 people and wounding numerous others, according to CNN. Written on the shooters rifle was Ebba Akerlund, the name of an 11-year-old partially deaf Swedish girl who died in an April 2017 terrorist attack...”
5
posted on
03/18/2019 7:55:45 AM PDT
by
WellyP
(question!)
To: SeekAndFind
Millard is the Hot Air village idiot - and he’s got some stiff competition for that honor at HA.
Arguing for the free distribution of snuff videos probably isn’t the wisest notion that’s come into his one living brain cell.
6
posted on
03/18/2019 8:01:52 AM PDT
by
LouieFisk
To: WellyP
I guess I don’t see how he was connected to a Swedish girl.
I still want to hear the NZ PM explaining to the Muslims that they are safe because the police are protecting their mosques.
7
posted on
03/18/2019 8:04:46 AM PDT
by
AppyPappy
(How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?)
To: SeekAndFind
The prime minister put on a headscarf and a funeral face and embraced a random member of the congregation that was attacked.
You and I know that the PM wouldn’t have shown 1/10 as much grief if a middle easterner had attacked a church or synagogue.
8
posted on
03/18/2019 8:14:53 AM PDT
by
I want the USA back
(Lying Media: willing and eager allies of the hate-America left.)
To: SeekAndFind
Quoting article: Theres nothing wrong with websites like Facebook or Google deciding to block videos of shootings or suspend accounts if they choose to as long as its not by government edict.
There is something wrong with that. We need to beef up the Free Speech laws to include the major social media platforms in the First Amendment legal structure, as public spaces in the electronic world (not private property) just as we have public space in the real world.
9
posted on
03/18/2019 8:27:08 AM PDT
by
Star Traveler
(Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
To: rktman
New Zealand doesn’t have the equivalent Bill of Rights, like we do in the USA. They’re able to do that here, and perhaps the Marxists/Leftists Democrats would like to do it here, too ... but we still do have the legal protections of the Bill of Rights, even if there are Marxists/Leftists fighting against them.
10
posted on
03/18/2019 8:29:07 AM PDT
by
Star Traveler
(Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
To: Star Traveler
“We need to beef up the Free Speech laws to include the major social media platforms in the First Amendment legal structure,”
And if someone decides that Free Republic is a major social media platform does the government get to decide who and what gets blocked on FR?
To: Star Traveler
Their mantra is: “Bill of Rights? You don’t need no steenkin’ Bill of Rights!” And, as I said, they are constantly looking for ways to deny us those rights.
12
posted on
03/18/2019 8:40:09 AM PDT
by
rktman
( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
To: Tijeras_Slim
I got $5 that says that photo was taken at least an hour after it was all over.The implication being...?
Come on! Don't be coy with us!
Regards,
13
posted on
03/18/2019 8:41:35 AM PDT
by
alexander_busek
(Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
To: rktman
Their mantra is: Bill of Rights? You dont need no steenkin Bill of Rights! And, as I said, they are constantly looking for ways to deny us those rights.
—
I think the idea that is trending among leftists now is that because the US Constitution once condoned slavery, it should no longer be considered the law of the land.
14
posted on
03/18/2019 8:42:00 AM PDT
by
samtheman
(How can there be so many brain damaged Americans?)
To: samtheman
Well, in liblogic, that should be enough to throw the entire constitution out the window.
15
posted on
03/18/2019 8:43:42 AM PDT
by
rktman
( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
To: Star Traveler
I can no longer comment on movies at Amazon because the Amazon police said I broke community rules. Meaning I upset a snowflake
16
posted on
03/18/2019 8:45:00 AM PDT
by
dp0622
(The Left should know if.. Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
To: alexander_busek
If it was still on, they’d be crouching behind cars not doing the combat sling strut.
To: I want the USA back
re: “The prime minister put on a headscarf and a funeral face and embraced a random member of the congregation that was attacked.”
It gives one a good idea of who they are afraid of. That, and coverage in the ‘press’ ...
18
posted on
03/18/2019 8:51:07 AM PDT
by
_Jim
(Save babies)
To: dp0622
The ‘corporate entities’ are enforcing their ‘homogenized speech’ ... and so, in the public spaces of the electronic world, there is no such thing as the First Amendment.
That needs to change and laws need to be made enforcing the First Amendment in major social media corporate sites where the public gathers in mass to make statements about whatever.
19
posted on
03/18/2019 8:53:03 AM PDT
by
Star Traveler
(Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
To: Tijeras_Slim
I got $5 that says that photo was taken at least an hour after it was all over. That's a safe bet. Watching the video (unedited, uncensored), the shooter left the first mosque, got in his car and began driving. I'd guess that he was several miles down the road when the first police sirens are heard in the distance.
If he hadn't shot up a second location or done the manifesto/live video stream thing, the cops might still be trying to figure out who did it.
20
posted on
03/18/2019 8:53:44 AM PDT
by
Charles Martel
(Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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