For Ron and anyone else interested in NAMBLA
Submitted by Drifter on 2003-02-20 18:28:12, Thursday
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Im posting this further to the top because the NAMBLA debate with Ron actually got quite interesting and if hes still around, it would be cool to continue it here. I know quite a bit about NAMBLA, and I know for a fact that they do not promote or tolerate violence of any type. NAMBLA is so adamantly against violence that they lobby against things like corporal punishment and circumcision. There have been lies spread about a publication allegedly titled "Rape and Escape", the truth is that no such publication exists. There was a publication with a different title that was circulated by NAMBLA, and the attourney for the Curley family made a statement that the publication may as well be called "Rape and Escape" (in his opinion). He obviously meant for the media to grab that catchphrase, and he succeeded to the point that people like yourself actually believe NAMBLA published something by that title, when in fact, the title came from the attourney's own imagination. Like other lobbying groups, they seek a change in the laws. Their views may not be very popular, but promoting a change in the law is not illegal and is protected by the 1st amendment. To blame NAMBLA for a murder committed by one of its members would be similar to blaming the Republican party for the murder of abortion doctors committed by members of that party. Yes, republicans promote a change in the abortion laws, but they do not promote murdering doctors. Yes NAMBLA promotes a change in the age of consent laws, but they do not promote rape and murder. The first amendment exists to protect speech that the government (and others) find offensive. Speech that goes along with the accepted morals of society does not need protecting. It is controversial speech that needs to be protected, and it is for that type of speech that the first amendment was created. I do not support NAMBLA's mission, but I support their right to have their thoughts published without fear of government retaliation. Everyone has that right, be they skinhead, neo-nazi, kkk, or nambla. I might not like them, but the fact they are allowed to express their views even when most people hate them is part of what makes the United States worth living in. Its something called freedom. |
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