Senator Dick Durbin Believes The First Amendment Doesn't Apply Here

by Gabrielle Jones-Price

[h/t to Jim Naureckas at FAIR blog: Dick Durbin Wants to Stop You From Being a Journalist]

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin tells you which parts of the First Amendment apply to you.

[Earning that first name in all caps...]

Please note: Being a senator doesn't make him journalist, either, yet here he is writing in the [floundering] Chicago Sun-Times like he knows a thing or two about it.

By this line of thinking, he could complain that not everyone who writes a book is an author and not everyone who runs for public office is a politician. The first amendment applies to every citizen with a voice -- unfortunately, big money has drowned out many new voices but NOW an online press can and will drown out these obsolete, corporate pucker-ups.

If this swine can convince you he knows better than you -- what's next? 'Who's a real musician', 'who's a real painter', 'who's a real person'...oh, shoot...I forgot, these dinosaurs already believe corporations are people and money is speech.

Mr. Naureckas, writing for FAIR makes the case for new media which old media can't seem to wrap it's senile brain around: "Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and even Instagram are all, guess what, media outlets–that is, institutions whose primary purpose is to distribute information to the public. (Their names appear in bold in FAIR materials because we bold the names of media outlets.)"


Even CNN should be able to agree with that assessment, even though their coverage of the Boston Bombing proved they're laughably abysmal at gathering information on the net.

Did you check your pack before you jumped?

Dick Durbin, you played yourself. So has mainstream media and the time has come to exit the stage. Don't let it escape you that many entered from the left but they are now all exiting stage right. Eventually, some will come crawling back, crying that the corporate parachutes they thought they were wearing were actually rucksacks full of propaganda and fossilized thinking.

I'm really quite enjoying this last curtain call and I don't even own a television. The dog and pony show was old and predictable ages ago.

Here's a thought...perhaps mainstream media could redeem itself by investigating this? Last time "real journalists" looked, it wasn't a cold case.  Sorry, MSM pundits, anchors and car show models -- it's not a sound-byte, I know...and it won't fit on a Twitter update...but that wouldn't be considered 'investigating', now would it? 

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights.

Yes, there will be an exam later...

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Today's Refreshments, July 5th

photos by Gabrielle Price

Hydrangeas, zucchini, broccoli and local blackberries - courtesy of the best neighbors I've ever had. Fine euchre players to boot.

We'll be shredding and freezing half of this for making bread. The broccoli gets eaten tonight.

A bit tart but delicious - froze these this morning for cobbler tomorrow.

Independence Does Not Exist On The Net

by Gabrielle Price

If independence existed on the net -- you could grow your own food on it, speak plainly without being spied on and do what you like and say what you like with no other repercussion than the block you live on.

I've been gone quite awhile and understand the myriad notes and messages I have received in regards to the 'state of the nation' but if you look through my archives, you'll see that I was quite concerned before many movements showed up on the scene and now dripping off the lips of people new to being pissed off, like some loose change dangling from their gobs.

I've taken some g'damn time off.  I deserved it.

It is not my fault that shit went to [the fifth or sixth circle of] hell while I was away -- shit was in the seventh circle in my mind over five years a ago, so I've been a little busy making plans rather than talking about them here.

In the same breath, I can say that during my 'hiatus', I've become quite the grounded, calm and busy person.

I've moved into a homestead in southern Indiana, quite literally two years before I imagined doing so and now that I have, I've been busy getting to know my neighbors, community and growers.  This is what I have always preached and am now putting my words into action.  Am I late?  Am I a newbie? Of course, I am.  But I am coming at it with the intent of every word before it -- the intent has always been there. I spoke it, either aloud or through this venture.

Recently, much more than words have been demonized -- the whole world is watching this country squirm in its collective easy chair and many saw this coming, including myself because of the teachers I had.  Do I feel bad for those who did not see it?  Of course.  Do I feel bad for those I warned over a year ago who still feel the need to squirm?  Not necessarily.

There is always the sense of 'oneness' and in the same breath, I can say that oneness does not occur automatically.  Not through blessings, not through faith but through trial.  Through the mud and muck only does the lotus blossom.

Well...I'm in the place I need to be because I never questioned the path that led me to where I am.  I may have questioned others who sought to show me a different path -- but inside, I maintained my own and that made all the difference in the world.

"As time passes we all get better at blazing a trail through the thicket of advice - Margot Bennett

This was a quote that hung steadfastly through a myriad of experiences and those that dispensed with advice were taken lightly, especially those that were living in the city and those that felt the need to dispense advice to me when they did not know me from Adam.  [Even folks that thought they knew me ten years ago, don't recognize photographs of me then.]

This is what happens when one chooses truth, which is akin to tripping down a rabbit hole. Sometimes you come out the other side ready to slay a Jabberwocky and sometimes you come out ready to take some time to yourself before picking up that sword.

Well...I've taken that time.  Others bitch about it, complain that I have not done enough or given enough.  Money never meant a thing to me -- it was only ever a means to an end.  But in my life, it was the end of a marriage -- the end of my passion.  Asking for it on behalf of a greater cause, only left me hungry and without a roof over my head.  So I got wiser.

A job [as an independent contractor/call analyst] fell in my lap -- it's not sexy, it's not fun, it's not even interesting -- but it gets my bills paid and it keeps me in a place to afford me to do THIS. WRITE.  And contribute to others who are trying to do the same.  SO...

My Independence Day screed ends like this:  I did it my way.  I never begged -- I asked politely with the support of others and ALWAYS tried to offer something in return [a tee shirt, a mug, a photograph].  I never stole.  I never borrowed to build TRC.  Those who gave, believed.  Those who did not but shared/reposted, did what they could.  Now, I do it my way.

And that, my friends...is independence. If you don't like that, you can eat a bag of dicks. I have many people to thank but from here on out, I speak my mind without fear, without apology, without regret. Because I am motivated to do so by no one...but myself...and my ancestors.

After the month we've had -- I feel a duty to be here -- even if only a few posts per week, I can no longer stay silent.  I no longer feel pressure.  I no longer feel weight.  I no longer feel beholden. I no longer have to answer to anyone.

I feel...FREE. And THAT comes with some responsibility.  I feel confident that everyone can agree on that.

Sat nam ~ Gabrielle

TRC is run solely on donations from patrons via PayPal. If you enjoy TRC's work, please consider donating. Any amount is generous. Receipt will read The Road Home, Inc. Thank you!