Oath-breaking federal legislators cave into Israeli foe against our First Principles
That’s right. Immediately before our eyes. Please read, at least, the following first two paragraphs of this recent article from The Intercept: http://bit.ly/2tzyWiW_Israel_Anti-Boycott_Act:
The criminalization of political speech and activism against Israel has become one of the gravest threats to free speech in the West. In France, activists have been arrested and prosecuted for wearing T-shirts advocating a boycott of Israel. The U.K. has enacted a series of measures designed to outlaw such activism. In the U.S., governors compete with one another over who can implement the most extreme regulations to bar businesses from participating in any boycotts aimed even at Israeli settlements, which the world regards as illegal. On U.S. campuses, punishment of pro-Palestinian students for expressing criticisms of Israel is so commonplace that the Center for Constitutional Rights refers to it as “the Palestine Exception” to free speech.
But now, a group of 43 senators — 29 Republicans and 14 Democrats — wants to implement a law that would make it a felony for Americans to support the international boycott against Israel, which was launched in protest of that country’s decades-old occupation of Palestine. The two primary sponsors of the bill are Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland and Republican Rob Portman of Ohio. Perhaps the most shocking aspect is the punishment: Anyone guilty of violating the prohibitions will face a minimum civil penalty of $250,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison.
In essence, a Senate bill, S. 720, has been endorsed by dozens of senators and Congressmen that would criminalize any individual’s support for boycott of the state of Israel (e.g. the BDS sanctions). Such support includes speaking in favor of a/the boycott, putting a bumper sticker on one’s car, telling a friend that you don’t like what Israel is doing to its Palestinian prisoners, seeking to bring Israel before the International Criminal Court for apartheid or for the USS Liberty attacks… anything that can be construed by a sadistic government as ‘supporting a boycott’ of Israel.
Penalties: a minimum civil penalty of $250,000 [which appears to be judicially nondiscretionary, i.e. if it’s demonstrated by a prosecutor (or if you take a plea) that you have publicly said something negative about Israel you WILL PAY $250K] and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison!!!!
Can’t happen here? Well, it appears a majority of baloney-stuff federal legislators thinks differently.
I agree the evil genie is probably going promptly back in the bottle (for a while), but permanently only if we the people go on the immediate attack with all barrels blazing. My part of the instigation is a satirical ‘counter measure to S. 720,’ which makes it a crime to SUPPORT Israel and/or Zionism in any way (ref. http://brianrwright.com/AntiZioAct.odt)… punishable by a minimum $500K fine and routine maximum of DEATH by waterboarding or similar forms of torture (such as forced 24/7 viewing of mainstream news). I have suggested this legislation in formal mailed letters to my senators and Congressman. Please consider suggesting the same to your legislators.
Here’s my Tweet (ref. http://twitter.com/brian_r_wright) for those of you who like Twitter:
S. 720 to outlaw boycott vs. Israel: https://theintercept.com/2017/07/19/u-s-lawmakers-seek-to-criminally-outlaw-support-for-boycott-campaign-against-israel/ … Here’s an alternative bill to S. 720 to consider: http://brianrwright.com/AntiZioAct.odt.
Time is of the essence.
FYI, also, be friendly but innovative in your letters to public officials; here’s mine:
Senator Debbie Stabenow
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2204
Subject: S. 720, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act
Dear Senator Stabenow:
It has come to my attention that you have sponsored, endorsed, or are thinking about voting for the Senate bill S. 720, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (ref: https://theintercept.com/2017/07/19/u-s-lawmakers-seek-to-criminally-outlaw-support-for-boycott-campaign-against-israel/ ).
This very-Washington-popular measure would go a long way toward well-overdue violation of American natural rights, but so long as you’re in the mood, please consider the following alternative measure, which I believe will even more deeply achieve your goal of ending all freedom in this country.
Thank you for your prompt consideration,
Sincerely,
Brian R. Wright
Attachment:
[Text of S. 720 proposed substitute ( http://brianrwright.com/AntiZioAct.odt.)]
PS: Senator, quite seriously, it should go without saying that any legislator who takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution is blatantly and knowingly violating such oath by passing S. 720 as it now stands. This is serious business, ma’am.
Note: the other Michigan Sen and Cong Trott addresses are:
Senator Gary Peters
Hart Senate Office Building, Suite 724
Washington, DC 20510
Representative David Trott
1722 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
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