Futurelawyer

If You Put A Box Over A Statue, You Really Don't Accomplish Anything.

Judge Orders Plywood Box Over Columbus Statue Removed. I always thought of children when I read about statues being defaced or removed for political reasons. A spoiled child will destroy a toy in order not to have to see it anymore. I also recognize that removing the reminders of history merely increases the possibility that the future generations will repeat it. They will anyway. Every human is imperfect. Every human commits errors, either accidentally or intentionally. Removing statues won't solve the problem. It may make the spoiled child feel better for a while. However, covering up a statue with a plywood box is a new one for me. That action is like a Judge admonishing a jury not to consider the objectionable testimony they just heard. I can hear the passers by now. What is under the plywood box? Why was it constructed? Who did it? If you have political differences with the person the statue commemorates, write a flyer and hand it out to people who pass by. Write a blog, and publish your ideas. Have discussions with anyone who will listen. Vote. Run for political office. Construct a statue of someone you admire. The best thing that ever happened to Columbus was the fight over his legacy. Millions now know his history, and his human failings, and his triumphs. Nobody will ever build a statue of the FutureLawyer, and I don't care. I live in the ether of the Internet, and I say what I want every day. 

Why Isn't Everyone Using Signal?

Signal. I don't understand. Politicians, celebrities, and others in the public eye keep getting cancelled. Of course, cancelling someone for what they said years ago is reprehensible, and free speech is under attack; but, the fact remains that those who depend upon public approval need to be careful these days. So, why they aren't using Signal for every text message, and only sending texts to their clients and colleagues who are also using Signal, is beyond me. I suppose that the craving for fame is in all of us; but, be smart, people. Lawyers especially need to be careful, at least with confidential information. I am as guilty as the rest of you, and don't always insist that my text partners have, and use, Signal. But, I use it as my only text messaging app, and, if I were to need a specific conversation to be encrypted everywhere, I would insist the other person use it. It is important that we monitor our words carefully in the political environment in which we find ourselves.

Cancel Culture May Be Operating At Its Peril.

princeton-facing-possible-legal-action-after-labeling-professor-racist-for-opposing-race-based-faculty-perks. Woke culture uses free speech arguments to support its cancellation of others for exercising their rights of free speech. However, as in the Seventies, when lawyers and litigation challenged the then suppression of speech that was deemed profane or otherwise evil, so also the woke community should not be surprised that cancelled persons are fighting back with lawyers and lawsuits. This article about a couple of professors who were called racists by their universities for challenging race based university action contemplating litigation shows how the legal system can be used to protect free speech in a new era. Calling someone a racist is defamatory. In defamation litigation, truth is a defense. However, it is up to a jury to decide what is racist, and the professors' entitlement to comment on University action may not be enough to prove racism. In fact, it could be argued that cancelling someone is, in itself, a racist act. It is sad that we must engage in these types of arguments. But, the courtroom is the best place to resolve these disputes. Otherwise, we would be battling in the streets.

 

Jessica Rabbit Is Too Sexy For Disney?

Jessica Rabbit Removed From Disney Ride. Apparently, there is no room for sexy in ToonTown. While not admitting it in public, the Jessica Rabbit character in a car trunk is too violent or sexy for Disney, and the character has been removed without comment. This calls to mind the removal of the scene in Pirates of the Caribbean of the scene where Pirates are chasing women around after taking the town. In Woke America, if you remove scenes of violence from cartoons and theme park rides, the world will be a safer place. Of course, actually funding police to stop crime isn't the answer. One more reason why Disney isn't a destination for me anymore. In the meantime, here is a picture of the buxom Ms. Rabbit for your viewing enjoyment.

 

Signs Of A Declining Civilization.

Interesting quote from Ayn Rand, in Atlas Shrugged. I would add to it. When you see that Free Speech is only available to one viewpoint, regardless whether it is from either side of the political spectrum, and the Government doesn't protect the speakers, then your society is truly doomed.

Making The Olympics Into The Oscars.

Cancel Culture and Woke Shaming and Virtue Signalling has gone too far. When are thinking people going to stand up the small minded, complaining, holier than thou, arbiters of modern discourse? I'll start. There were, are, and always will be, the Washington Redskins. When will we tell Twitter and Facebook and Left Wing tyrants to go pound sand? It appears that it will take liberal minded comedians and pundits to say enough. Here is Bill Maher's take on the insanity that is destroying free speech:

 

Whose Right To Free Speech Are We Talking About Here?

In some ways, I believe that these tech giants are more powerful than Government officials. This is a fascinating take on Donald Trump's lawsuit against Big Tech, which banned him from their platforms because they thought the First Amendment didn't apply to them. After all, the Bill of Rights protects us from "governmental action", right? And, private corporations shouldn't have to be constrained by the First Amendment, right? After all, they have their own right of free speech. However, in an Internet age, when all communication runs through the Internet, should a group of private individuals and corporations be allowed to control the flow of thought and information? Shouldn't the right to free speech belong to all of us? Should we examine the connection between government and large corporations, who may be in collusion with each other? When does private action become tantamount to public action? Free speech depends upon everyone being on a level playing field. This article, by a former head of the ACLU, thinks the lawsuit by Trump raises some important Constitutional questions. Perhaps someone like Trump can be described as obscene, gross, and legitimately disgusting. What happens when the shoe is on the other foot? Isn't sauce for the goose also sauce for the gander? Should the Supreme Court expand the definition of government action? What do you think?

Warning To "Sensitive Souls" And "Snowflakes". The Futurelawyer Site Is Not A Safe Zone.

It is past time for a backlash against those who are too sensitive to hear offensive or objectionable words (at least, in their opinion). It is past time for all of us to tell the A**** that we don't care if they are offended. What kind of people are we, and what kind of kids are we raising? 

Free Speech Is Essential To Freedom.

Answers to Anti-Free Speech Arguments. There are some dangerous ideas floating around now, which are so called arguments in favor of restricting certain speech, certain words, and certain ideas. The most dangerous is the one that alleges that free speech can constitute a violent act, and therefore others need to be protected from it by things like "safe zones" on college campuses. This article examines some of these ideas, and the arguments counter to them. Speech is not violence. It is the way we avoid violence in our free society. Speech can be disagreeable, insulting, disgusting and many other things. It is NOT violence. The United States has lasted this long precisely because we have allowed hurtful speech, as a replacement to cave man tactics of physical violence. So, what happens when speech is strictly regulated? Where does all that anger go? You be the judge.

What's In A Date? It Is Still A Celebration Of Our Independence.

The history of the actual signing (July 2, 1776), the actual adoption by the Continental Congress (July 4, 1776), and the celebration (July 8, 1776) of the Declaration of Independence, is not important. However, the fact that our country was born of a desire to escape monarchy, and to create a self-governing society whose citizens are free to speak their minds, is. Over the years there have been many challenges to our freedom. We have our republic, and, in the words of Benjamin Franklin (who probably did say it; but, nobody knows for sure), we will have it, if we can keep it. Challenges to freedom of speech come from those who want a society to be as they wish it. We must defend that freedom, above all others. The next time you see someone stifling another's freedom to speak, regardless of how offensive you believe the speech to be, remember: We have our Republic. Can we keep it?