Beyond all the other reasons not to do it, free speech assaults always backfire: they transform bigots into martyrs.
Glenn GreenwaldTags: censorship freedom-of-speech bigotry martyrdom twitter
I know it's a really hard concept to process, but the fact that Govt accuses someone of being a Terrorist doesn't mean they are.
Glenn GreenwaldTags: united-states terrorism war-on-terror twitter
The hallmark of an authoritarian idiot is yelling TERRORIST-LOVER! at anyone questioning the definition of Terrorist.
Glenn GreenwaldTags: propaganda authoritarianism ideology terrorism war-on-terror 2012 twitter state-terrorism
For those suggesting criticisms of drone kills should wait until the election: that'd be reasonable if he stops killing until the election.
Glenn GreenwaldTags: politics united-states barack-obama 2012 twitter us-presidential-election-2012 drone-attacks-in-pakistan unmanned-aerial-vehicles
But the more significant factor is that one can easily remain free of even the most intense political oppression simply by placing one’s faith and trust in institutions of authority. People who get themselves to be satisfied with the behavior of their institutions of power, or who at least largely acquiesce to the Plegitimacy of prevailing authority, are almost never subjected to any oppression, even in the worst of tyrannies.
Why would they be? Oppression is designed to compel obedience and submission to authority. Those who voluntarily put themselves in that state – by believing that their institutions of authority are just and good and should be followed rather than subverted – render oppression redundant, unnecessary.
Of course people who think and behave this way encounter no oppression. That’s their reward for good, submissive behavior. As Rosa Luxemburg put this: “Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” They are left alone by institutions of power because they comport with the desired behavior of complacency and obedience without further compulsion.
But the fact that good, obedient citizens do not themselves perceive oppression does not mean that oppression does not exist. Whether a society is free is determined not by the treatment of its complacent, acquiescent citizens – such people are always unmolested by authority – but rather by the treatment of its dissidents and its marginalized minorities.
There’s nothing “grown-up” about wanting the State to punish people without evidence of guilt so that you can feel safe. It’s actually a deeply childish need at the heart of all authoritarianism - the desire for a big daddy figure to keep you safe from the Bad People even it means there are no legal constraints, due process, or transparency.
Children growing up learn that their Daddy is omnipotent and omniscient and exercises his unchecked power for benevolent ends - it’s a nice, safe feeling, and many continue to cling to it in adulthood, hoping the Security State will provide that. Many adjectives can and should be used to describe that need - “grown-up” definitely is not among them.
A number I'd love to know: the % of those now saying 'we have to vote Obama to stop an attack on Iran' who will support one if Obama does it.
Glenn GreenwaldTags: politics war united-states barack-obama iran 2012 andrew-sullivan twitter united-states-elections-2012
He's the President—it's the responsibility of every citizen to criticize aggressively when they think it's warranted.
Glenn GreenwaldTags: politics democracy dissent criticism barack-obama
As always, imagine how great the press corps would be if it devoted 1/1000th the energy to dissecting non-sex political wrongdoing
Glenn GreenwaldTags: politics sex united-states media corruption journalism 2012 twitter david-petraeus petraeus-scandal sex-scandals
They're called 'facts', and my role is to amplify those, not cheerlead. And I don't care at all what you think of my motives.
Glenn GreenwaldTags: politics principle dissent facts journalism 2012 twitter
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