Free Speech vs Privacy Of Names of Dead Soldiers

There seems to be a controversy between the rights of Vincent Greene's, an Austin artist, and Dan Frazier's, an Arizona T-shirt vendor artistic rights to create and sell -shirts which display the image of President Bush overlaid with the names of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and those who think it improper to use the names of these dead soldiers without the permission of the families. The t-shirts contain the slogan "He Lied, They Died".

These names, I'm sure, came from publicly available resources with no apparent restrictions. And yes, the intent was to make a public statement about Bush's handling of the war on terror. The real issue here, on the part of those who object, is the fact that these t-shirts are being sold. If the design were simply a poster or silkscreen displayed somewhere there would be no issue.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

And the real issue is the exercise of our First Amendment right to "freedom of speech", which both Greene and Frazier were clearly doing. It is sad that over 3000 soldiers have lost their lives and thousands more have been severely injured and maimed. Let's not forget that those soldiers were not only fighting for the Iraqis freedom they were also fighting for our Constitution, including the right to freedom of speech. I would like to think that every one represented on that t-shirt, if they were alive today, would tell you they were OK with it.

And by the way, I was a US Navy aviator and combat decorated Viet Nam Vet. So no arguments about what I know of combat.

National Healthcare

So you think everyone should have healthcare? Well, yes they should. But be careful about opening Pandora’s box. Be careful about what you might wish for you may get it.

Imagine that your 86 year old mother has a heart attack and must be taken to the emergency room. Then imagine that when you arrive the hospital is waiting to see if you have private insurance or if you will pay all the costs accordingly. What is this you ask?

Well you see, under most national health care systems treatment is rationed. Doesn’t it make more sense to spend the money perform a triple bypass on a young, virile, male of 27 who may live a productive life for many more years that on an old woman who may very well have another attack and die in just a few months?

Do you really think national health care would waste all that money keeping Terri Schiavo alive? The plug would have been pulled as soon as she was declared brain dead, not allowed to live in a vegetative state for 13 years. And how about that treatment for brain cancer that Ted Kennedy got. Flying town to see a specialist immediately. Think you'd see that under a national health care plan?

And look how well the government manages the veterans’ hospitals. With the government running all the hospitals and looking to minimize costs to what do you think our health care system would degenerate?

Most countries that provide universal health care do so at a high cost which is in fact paid for through high taxes. What, you thought it was free?? What, you thought Michael Moore was telling you the entire truth?

Posted by Steve Bernstein at 4:28 PM