Do liberals believe in free speech? The Trevor Noah controversy – Video

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Do liberals believe in free speech? The Trevor Noah controversy
On Black, White and Politically Incorrect, Susan Patton and I discuss the recent controversy over Trevor Noah, the man slated to take over for Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. We also ask whether...

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Do liberals believe in free speech? The Trevor Noah controversy - Video

Cavna: Crowdfund of the week: Free-speech cartoonists vs. legal and mortal threats

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TOMORROW, the Malaysian cartoonist Zunar is expected to be charged with sedition over an illustrated tweet critical of his nations judiciary. If found guilty, he could face several years behind bars.

Last week, Turkish cartoonists Bahadir Baruter and Ozer Aydogan of the publication Penguen were sentenced to 14 months in prison for satirically insulting the nations president, before their sentences were commuted to fines.

And last month, while visiting Washington for a free-speech talk at Freedom House, Ecuadorian cartoonist Bonil told me that he cant spend his creative energy thinking about death threats, as well as a preliminary criminal investigation over his artwork, when he returns to his country. He faces accusations of socioeconomic discrimination, and he is fighting to stay free in body as well as in speech.

Elsewhere around the world, some political cartoonists also face arrests and threats at best, and disappearance and death in the darkest scenarios, over their commitment to exercise the power of the pen.

As Zunar says in a statement this week about the true power of the politically charged cartoon: The truth is seditious.

Coming to the aid of these artists the globe over, though, is the Cartoonists Rights Network International, which for one more week is running an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for its numerous fights for cartoonist rights and protection.

The Virginia-based organization is buoyed by many of the industrys American brethren, including such Pulitzer-winning cartoonists as Joel Pett of the Lexington Herald-Leader and Matt Wuerker of Politico. And at the center of the human-rights group is executive director Robert Russell, a former Peace Corps worker who founded CRNI a quarter-century ago.

Comic Riffs caught up with Russell to talk about the mission and movements of CRNI, as well as how to best aid, protect and rescue cartoonists who risk life and liberty in the name of free speech, and in the visual pursuit of truth.

MICHAEL CAVNA: CRNI has been on the front lines of helping support cartoonists under editorial and personal attack for a quarter-century now. How much are threats against, and persecution of, cartoonists always a constant and roughly how many cartoonists around the globe would you say need your help at any given time?

ROBERT RUSSELL: At any given time, anywhere from three to five cartoonists are very high on our radar. For some of these cartoonists, the problems are just temporary and usually settled positively and without too much fanfare in the civil courts. Other of our cartoonist clients have been in and out of trouble with their antagonists for years. We also find that a consistent group of usual suspects keeps making the rounds on our radar screen. Recidivism amongst some particularly hard-hitting cartoonists can be very high.

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Cavna: Crowdfund of the week: Free-speech cartoonists vs. legal and mortal threats

Volokh Conspiracy: Can a city suppress speech protesting eminent domain?

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The Institute for Justice had petitioned the Supreme Court to take an interesting case out of the Fourth Circuit involving the suppression of free speech protesting a taking of private property. Here is the press release:

Case Appealed to U.S. Supreme Court Shows How If We Lose One Right, We Can Lose Them All

First the Government Tried to Illegally Take Their Land, Then the Government Silenced Them So They Couldnt Hang a Protest Banner on Their Own Property

Key Facts This case started with government abusing its power of eminent domain. 10 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its infamousKeloruling eviscerating constitutional protections against eminent domain abuse. Company hung a protest banner; the government demanded they cover it up.

Arlington, Va.Ten years ago, in its infamousKelodecision, the U.S. Supreme Court adopted a radically broad interpretation of the governments power to take private property through eminent domain. But the Court recognized that the necessity and wisdom of using eminent domain are matters of legitimate public debate. Central Radio Company attempted to participate in that debate when the government tried to take its property through eminent domain. The city of Norfolk, Va., however, prevented it from doing so, barring the company from hanging a protest banner on the land in dispute. Now Central Radio is taking its fight to the U.S. Supreme Court,asking the Court to review a major case at the intersection of free speech and property rights.

This case demonstrates just how intertwined our constitutional rights arehow protecting free speech is essential to protecting our other fundamental liberties, including property rights, noted Michael Bindas, a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice, which represents Central Radio.

Central Radio has been a Norfolk institution for more than 80 years, but in 2010 the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority moved to take its land and building through eminent domain and turn it over to nearby Old Dominion University (a land grab Central Radio would ultimately defeat). In response to the threat, Central Radio hunga 375-square foot protest banneron the very building the government was trying to take. It read: 50 years on this street/78 years in Norfolk/100 workers/Threatened by eminent domain!

Acting on a complaint made by an official at Old Dominionthe very entity that stood to acquire Central Radios propertythe city quickly cited Central Radio and ordered the banner be taken down. Yet, under Norfolks sign code, the banner would have been allowed if it had fallen into one of the various favored categories of signs that Norfolk exempts from regulation. For example, a banner of the same size, in the same location, would have been perfectly permissible if, rather than protesting city policy, it depicted the city flag or crest.

In the fall of 2013, the Virginia Supreme Court held that the citys attempted taking of Central Radios property was illegal, vindicating the companys property rights. Unfortunately, however, the federal courts refused to vindicate Central Radios free speech rights. When the company challenged the citys sign code under the First Amendment, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia upheld it. And in January 2015, a divided 2-1decision of the U.S. 4thCircuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court.

According to the 4thCircuit majority opinion, it was irrelevant that the sign code drew distinctions between different types of banners based on their content so long as those distinctions were what the court deemed reasonable. Moreover, restricting Central Radios banner was warranted, according to the majority, because some passersby had reacted emphatically to the sign by waving, honking and shouting in support when they saw it. The majority claimed that these expressions of support were evidence that motorists [we]re distracted by [the] sign while driving.

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Volokh Conspiracy: Can a city suppress speech protesting eminent domain?

UN body tells Russia to act against human rights abuses

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GENEVA: United Nations experts on Thursday called on Russia to repeal laws limiting free speech and targeting homosexuals and urged action to prevent torture, racist crimes and a wide range of other human rights abuses.

The 18-member Human Rights Committee also told Moscow it should move to prevent violation of U.N. pacts that it has signed by insurgents in eastern Ukraine and by the authorities in the Chechen republic, and in Crimea.

The calls came in a report that indirectly drew a picture of a country rife with persecution of critics of the government and of groups that do not conform to its political and social views, and that gave no recourse to a proper judicial system.

The 12-page document largely referred to reports of abuses and violent activities, including by what it called "ultra-nationalist, racist and neo-Nazi groups", and of torture of suspects by police.

The Committee, which monitors signatory countries' performance under the 1976 International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, issued the report after examining Russia's record and hearing comments by Moscow's delegation.

During discussion in the Committee late last month, Russian officials denied the truth of the many of the reports cited by the body's members, who include non-government lawyers and academics from developing and developed countries.

The U.N. report said laws signed by President Vladimir Putin - including on limiting Internet activity and restricting links between Russian non-governmental organisations and foreign groups - "appear" to violate the U.N. Convention.

The Committee said it was concerned by reports of hate speech and violence against gays and called on Moscow to "clearly and explicitly state that it does not tolerate any form of social stigmatization of homosexuals".

It also noted "under-representation of women in decision- making positions" in political life and urged Russia to fight "patriarchal attitudes" on the role of women and men in the family and society at large.

(Editing by Stephanie Nebehay and Louise Ireland)

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UN body tells Russia to act against human rights abuses

Shashi Tharoor about Article 19 – Freedom of Speech at "India Shastra" Book Launch – Video

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Shashi Tharoor about Article 19 - Freedom of Speech at "India Shastra" Book Launch
Watch Shashi Tharoor about Article 19 - Freedom of Speech at "India Shastra" Book Launch. Shashi Tharoor #39;s book "India Shastra" launch at Trident hotel in Hyderabad. The creme de la creme of...

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Shashi Tharoor about Article 19 - Freedom of Speech at "India Shastra" Book Launch - Video

Failing and Succeeding. "Trying" to Do Things Vs Just Doing Them. Freedom of Speech – Video

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Failing and Succeeding. "Trying" to Do Things Vs Just Doing Them. Freedom of Speech
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Failing and Succeeding. "Trying" to Do Things Vs Just Doing Them. Freedom of Speech - Video

University of Maryland officials say hateful e-mail did not violate policy

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University of Maryland officials have concluded that a vulgar e-mail a student sent to members of his fraternity last year was hateful and reprehensible, but did not violate the schools policies and is protected by the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech.

University President Wallace D. Loh announced Wednesday the results of an investigation that involved campus and Prince Georges County police, as well as the universitys Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct.

At issue was a private e-mail sent in January 2014 by a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity that surfaced publicly in March this year. It contained a racist, sexist message indicating that the author wanted to have sex with women during fraternity rush week but didnt want people to invite women of certain races. The e-mail also contained a line using an expletive to indicate above all else to forget about consent.

Loh said the e-mail was profoundly hurtful to the entire university community. By mutual consent, he said the student responsible has left campus and will not return for the semester.

The student issued an apology through Lohs statement:

I apologize for the pain that I have caused you, the entire University of Maryland community, and many others who were offended by my words. ... For this, I am deeply sorry.

I regret sending that e-mail more than Ill ever be able to put into words, the student continued. I know there is no way to erase this incident or the agony it has caused, but ... I have learned an important life lesson, realizing there is no room for hate or prejudice of any kind in our community.

Loh said the student proposed to undergo training in diversity and cultural competence and to perform community service. I accepted these actions to hold him morally accountable, Loh said.

The student is no longer a member of the fraternity.

Nick Anderson covers higher education for The Washington Post. He has been a writer and editor at The Post since 2005.

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Madison, Wis., first city to ban discrimination against atheists

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MADISON, Wis., April 2 (UPI) -- Discrimination against atheism was banned on Tuesday in Madison, Wis., after a city council vote -- a first in the United States.

"Nonreligion" was added as a protected class by the Common Council under the city's equal opportunity ordinance. The legislation was co-sponsored by 14 of the council's 20 members and was approved without objection.

"This is important because I believe it is only fair that if we protect religion, in all its varieties, we should also protect non-religion from discrimination. It's only fair," ordinance sponsor Anita Weier said. "There are many categories that are protected... and it did occur to me that if religion was then perhaps the opposite should be."

The ordinance states: "Atheism means the disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods." The ordinance protects people who don't believe in God, commonly called atheists, from discrimination in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations.

Former Atheists Humanists and Agnostics president Chris Calvey spoke in favor of the legislation.

"It's actually something we're commonly very concerned about, just because atheism is viewed as such a taboo in this country, and there's such a stigma with it," Calvey said. "People in my student group, for example, are very hesitant to be honest about their lack of belief in God out of fear that they are going to be discriminated against... if that came up in a job interview that's held against them."

The Common Council approved the legislation in the last meeting before elections.

"Having it on the books, where we're legally a protected class, that'll make things much easier for atheists," Calvey added. "And we'll be able to be confident that at least if we're honest about what we actually believe, then we have the law backing us up so we can't legally be discriminated against."

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Deepak Chopra: The problem with atheism

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Story highlights We all fall somewhere on the sliding scale of belief and unbelief, Deepak Chopra says Skepticism is a way station on the way to a higher, more fulfilling kind of spirituality, he says

Standing back a bit, faith is on a rheostat, not an on-off switch. Putting God into the position of yes/no, belief/unbelief doesn't really reflect the modern state of faith. There are gradations of belief. In fact, 17% of people who identify as atheists still go to church -- they have social and family reasons for their choice rather than religious ones.

We all fall somewhere on the sliding scale of belief and unbelief. Secular society has sharpened our demand for truth. To me, this is a positive development. If belief in God can't stand up to proof, it won't sustain a person through difficult times.

Deepak Chopra

I consider skepticism a way station on the way to a higher, more fulfilling kind of spirituality.

Millions of people have walked away from organized religion to become more spiritual, not less. They call themselves seekers; their disbelief is a starting point for starting their own investigations.

Where the census form asks what faith they belong to, they might not have a ready answer, but that's not important. What's important is walking your own spiritual path. As a lifelong goal, it's one of the most rewarding.

What's not rewarding is to base your belief or unbelief on secondhand opinion. Being a knee-jerk skeptic is as limiting as being a knee-jerk fundamentalist. In both cases, the mind is being conditioned by others.

Atheists open up: What they want you to know

In my own conception of God as the source of consciousness, creativity, intelligence, love and evolution, the reason to be spiritual is to increase all of those qualities.

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Deepak Chopra: The problem with atheism

Teddy M. – Conscious Evolution (Kansas City, MO) – Meetup

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If you...

Become frustrated with "group think" mentality, and limited belief systems... Seek balance for High-frequency living... Seek meaning in life and understanding about the world... Wish to wake from the dream and illusion of who we think we are and move toward your authentic being, Welcome!

Most people are born originals, but die copies...

...Human evolution is a natural process with infinite potentials. We are not yet a finished product! In fact, there is no limit to the levels of evolution we can achieve, both as individuals and as a world society. We have within our capacity the ability to guide our own development as consciousness beings, and many of us are doing exactly that...

...Humanity as a sum total however, seems to be limited by its own concepts of life and right living. The only real limitations upon our continued growth as a species, are those concepts we continue to impose...

--Matthew Webb, The World Mind Society

The Groups topics: Consciousness, Evolution, Science, New Age, Mind - Body, Philosophy, Psychology, Spirituality, Metaphysics, Meditation, Awakening, Enlightenment, Light Workers, Unity, Oneness, Discussion, Humanism, Agnostics, Seekers, Singles, Friends, Indigo, Personal Growth, Self Help, Self- Discovery, Self-Realization, Self-Improvement, Life Transformation, Creativity, Community, Social, Volunteers, Peace, Green, Environment, Course in Miracles, Secret, Law of Attraction, Dreams, Reiki, Energy, Quantum, Healing, Holistic, Alternative Health, Near-Death Experience, Paranormal, Shamanism, Psychic, Reincarnation, Past Life, Soul Travel, Medium, Channeling, Astrology, Numerology, More..

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Teddy M. - Conscious Evolution (Kansas City, MO) - Meetup