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Open Poetry #26
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First Amendment
| Open Poetry #26 |
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First Amendment |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533
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"Audi Partem Alteram" -St. Augustine c 400 . . . . Congress defines that certain intercourse Shall without hindrance breath as free as air Make no mistake in internet discourse No tyrant long can stand beneath truth's glare Law, while shield for some is sword for others Abridging liberties with every swipe The well heeled haves forever seek to smother Freedom when used by have-nots they think it tripe Of all the laws formed by enlightened framers Speech was the foremost fundamental right Or would you now believe it needs disclaimers Of who may sing its day and who to silent night? The threat now undermines your palladium* Press on, a choir's voice will ne'er be overcome . . . . . "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be in silencing mankind" -John Stuart Mill 1859 . . . . Audi Partem Alteram = hear the other side *Palladium = A statue of Pallus Athene, esp. one on the citadel of Troy on which the safety of the city was supposed to depend.....anything believed to provide protection. "Nils Desperandum" Wells Family Motto |
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| © Copyright 2003 Richard S. Wells jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Read this through several times... can only come to one conclusion. I'm so glad you came to PiP... |
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Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
have to agree with Sunshine.. good stuff RS |
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garysgirl 
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Richard, this is wonderful. I'm so glad that you are here, too. Do you know what? I'll bet if you were a history teacher, more students would love history class. You know how to make the learning process enjoyable. Thank you, Sir Richard.  Hugs,  Ethel |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
There are many countries where if you speak your mind you will have your head cut off or spend a life in prison... Yet it always troubles me when a man that has no fear of these actions takes his freedom of speech not to say or do a good turn for mankind but to reveal how big of a fool he can be...would they also speak their mind if they feared retribution...for example how many men would come face to face with Mike Tyson and tell him he was uncivilized and ugly...not me...yet I do have that freedom of speech...James |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
I really appreciated the work you put into this one Richard and the end result was as usual excellent. As for freedom of speech, do we all really use it to the fullest extent? I don't really think so as there are too many other contributing factors that have reperecussions on free speech. This poem sure makes you ponder though. |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
...May I humbly acknowledge your genius and intrepid individuality and say that your work continuously serves as inspiration to the possibilities of linguistic expression? (and I'm not flattering, either.) -MVS You CAN make a difference: |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Richard, I will keep this piece and have my teenager read it for a homeschooling assignment (US Constitution course)this year. It is outstanding, and so timely. Thank you so much.  Kacy |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
RSWells Wonderful piece of writing, but we both know the more you dig the more involved it gets. But I do admire your skills. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Richard...So well done! |
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rosepetals25
since 2000-05-31
Posts 3076PA |
I have to agree with what everyone else has said...  Well done, I enjoyed Tara |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
bravo Sir. . . well done. . . I shall keep this in my library for study, as should anyone who wishes to further their knowledge of this unique craft we call poetry. . . superb. . . ---------------------------------------------------------------- To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world. |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Interesting form you have here, Sir. I'll consider this poem an education and excercise of my thoughts. enjoyed your work as always You could hurt me with your bare hands. You could hurt me using the sharp edge of what you say. JEWEL |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
 . . The bludgeon of patriotism musn't be wield to stifle voices of dissent. It was tried before and after four long years resulted in not one conviction, not even for the contempt charges on those that were legally embracing the 5th amendment. People either forget or don't know that it wasn't just unsympathetic rich hollywood types, screen writers and authors who were blacklisted. Many average Joes at GE, Westinghouse Electric and Bethlehem Steel were dismissed for merely being summoned before McCarthy and Cohn (seen on left a jewish homosexual who attacked both Jews and homosexuals) . . . I'm overwhelmed at the warm reception this post got and would like to thank you all for not only the read but for the best little gathering of responses I think I've gotten here. |
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