{"id":11317,"date":"2016-01-30T20:02:42","date_gmt":"2016-01-30T19:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.senzavento.it\/wordpress\/?p=11317"},"modified":"2016-05-22T21:10:48","modified_gmt":"2016-05-22T19:10:48","slug":"freedom-of-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senzavento.it\/wordpress\/freedom-of-speech.html","title":{"rendered":"Freedom of speech."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The art of defending great ideals and personal ideas, like a lighthouse in the storm…<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Congress shall make no law\u00a0respecting\u00a0an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”.\u00a0First\u00a0amendment to the US Constitution – “Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition” – Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791 (Note: The first 10 amendments form the Bill of Rights)<\/span><\/p>\n

An interview with D.V. – By the Editorial Board.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

So, here we are, three weeks later. First of all, allow me a personal question… We all know your name, but, for our readers, how can we call you?\u00a0Can “senzavento” (English: windless) be good for you?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, first of all, I’d like to thank you for having decided to grant\u00a0me the honour of a personal interview. Now, replying to your question, you can call me D.<\/span><\/p>\n

OK, D. Could you kindly explain us what D.V. stand for? Do they represent the initials of a name?\u00a0And what’s the reason why of your nickname “senzavento”?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, I don’t wanna give you a deep explanation of everything, for my safety and for yours, as well. Regarding the initials by which\u00a0I’m used to signing my articles, you may consider the Latin formula “Dei Veritas”, or better, based\u00a0on the norms of\u00a0Latin grammar “Veritas Dei”\u00a0(English: God’s Truth). Referring to my nickname… Have you ever seen a sail, during a dead calm? A horrible vision of what it could be and of what it is not. When I began to write, I swear to myself to blow in every single sail, “pushing the wind” of knowledge and reason, to the benefit of every interesting and apparently “windless” cause, that I could find on my path. That promise allowed me, till today, to analyze lots of political, economic and social matters, to reflect on them and to share my opinion with my readers. In fact, I strongly believe\u00a0that our Society and our Community cannot grow up without comparing ideas and different points of view.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, we can say that your main intent is a sort of\u00a0continuos brain storming, with and among the people. Is it correct? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, you gave a perfect interpretation of my intent.\u00a0“I think,\u00a0therefore I am” and “I disapprove of what\u00a0you\u00a0say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” are the keys\u00a0to understand my state of mind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is your favourite newspaper?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, I’m used to inspiring\u00a0myself, by reading The Washington Post, the New York Times and The Economist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently you wrote an\u00a0article called “Son of a Gun”<\/a>. It analyzed the Gun Control debate which is\u00a0flaming the US, starting from the 2nd\u00a0amendment to the US Constitution. We know that you had a strong discussion on a\u00a0social media, with the American people. What’s the outcome of your article?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

By your question, you give\u00a0me the opportunity to say, one more time, that\u00a0I still consider the US the land of\u00a0Freedom<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Opportunity\u00a0<\/strong>and that I respect the American people. Regarding the debate that I had on Facebook, it’s not easy to summarize every opinion by a singular answer… But I can easily say that due to aggressive words used by some guys, I got that the Gun Control dispute is helpful to describe the\u00a0nervousness which is dividing their land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you give me an example?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, during a debate session, I said\u00a0that “They, the people”\u00a0have to\u00a0consider that one law is not necessarily a righteous and “perfect” law, only because, 250 years ago, someone decided what’s the best for them, today. Someone replied to me that the right to keep and bear arms is not a law, but a “human right” given to him by God, many years ago. The same guy asked me: “Are you saying that God is wrong”? That’s incredible! Obviously, I said that\u00a0I cannot\u00a0judge the Lord but, at the same time, I said that it’s never a good idea to talk about “rights given to us by God”. In fact, in my opinion, or better, in the opinion of some fools from the Islamic State in example, that choice could justify extremism and fundamentalism. Jesus said: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”. When people will realize\/remember the above, maybe we’ll be able to discuss about smarter human laws.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, we can say that your readers were strongly devoted to\u00a0their origins.<\/strong>\u00a0Don’t we?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, absolutely. They were used to talking about their founding fathers with respect and admiration. Even if, sometimes, they did not know their own History.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you mean?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In example, regarding the “well regulated militia” they had a wrong perception of the amendment. They do not consider the idea that who wrote the US Constitution referred\u00a0just to the possibility that the British Empire could suddenly decide to attack the American people, after they declared their indipendence. They preferred a misinterpretation of their Constitution and they did not consider they are living in a “modern era”. As during the centuries the US built itself as\u00a0a State, becaming also the most powerful country in the world, in my opinion “the well regulated militia” have no more reasons to exist, neither as a “potential” citizen army, nor as a law prescription.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do they understand that you are not an American\u00a0<\/strong>citizen?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, if I must give you a percentage, I can say that just the 5% of them, understood that I’m not from the US.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What was their reaction, when they got it?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, usually they said: “if your are not American, who cares about\u00a0your opinion”… Also: “the 2nd amendment is not your business (…) bastard commie”… And also: “fascist”! I don’t like bad language but I’ve learnt lots of swear words… Anyway,\u00a0I consciously accepted to be in the line of fire. I have\u00a0a thick skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means that you revealed your political roots. Didn’t you?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

No, I didn’t. I’m not used to talking about my political ideas with a stranger. Whatever my political view is, I’ve often been called “liberal”.\u00a0They\u00a0didn’t know me, but, as I\u00a0focused my attention on a questionable matter, I got a “label” on my forehead.\u00a0It was funny.<\/span><\/p>\n

How did you react to these offenses?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It’s simple. Regarding their\u00a0ideas about “business”, “rights” and “freedom of speech”, I suggested asking\u00a0all the people abroad, that “citizens”\u00a0like \u00a0them\u00a0decided to educate… From the Middle East to South America, there are too many examples. I do not accept lessons from such blind men.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did they make any comparison between the US and the rest of the world?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, they did. The most common opinion was that violence and crime rate raised in those Countries that decided for a gun control, or for a total ban of firearms. As you know, based on Statistical datas, that’s not true. In the same time, they do not consider that the majority of EU Countries do not allow to keep and bear guns or rifles, without a prior sanity examination. There are stringent safety measures and it’s not easy to buy weapons, except for hunting. One of them, literally said\u00a0as follows: “in Switzerland every is required to have a firearm at home & trained. There’s not much crime. Because everyone knows there is a trained gun owner there. The main reason there’s so much crime here (in the US) is the illegal weapons. There\u00a0will be more crimes removing legal guns”. A\u00a0wrong comparison… Due to its neutrality, he forgot that Switzerland has Armed Forces based on conscription. That’s the reason why the people are well trained… And that’s the reason why the people have rifles at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did they claim their\u00a0rights, due to historical differences with the other Countries?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, they did. Lots of NRA readers attacked me, trying to justify the Second World War as the result of a hypothetical firearms ban… In their opinion, Germans, Italians and Japanese were obliged to accept their Tyrannical Governments, because they could not fight against them… I replied that they had a wrong vision of the facts. Maybe they studied on “different” books…\u00a0Moreover,\u00a0I reminded them that\u00a0before the Third Reich, the Nazi Party built itself in Germany like a popular militia. It’s a fact that\u00a0the Wehrmacht (the official German Army) was flanked by the Schultstaffeln (the SS) which, as you know, were used to “appointing” perfect “arian citizens”. Also, in Italy, Fascist blackshirts reached the Power as Representatives of the People. Last but not least, regarding Japan, it’s a fact that its own history was exactly the root of the problem. I mean: Sh\u014dgun, Emperor, Samurai and so on… They created a “fighting society” that in the end, justified the war as its “first commandment”.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you favorable to a total weapons ban?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well,\u00a0I’m favorable to a prior sanity check. In fact, I think that a mental state examination could be helpful to avoid risks for us and for our children as well. It’s incredible that\u00a0lots of people do not understand that the possession of\u00a0assault rifles\u00a0is not a normal thing, in a Democratic country… Because in a Democratic country the people trust the\u00a0law enforcement agencies without pretending to defend themselves, or their families, by personal weapons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As you know, the Prohibition didn’t work; the outlawing of drugs is not working, as well… What makes you think that a weapons ban will\u00a0work?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Well, in my opinion, when you have to fight against too many interests, it’s difficult to produce something good for our society. Prohibition did not work, because mobsters made their business together with dishonest politicians; outlawing drugs does not work due to the same cause (look at Mexican daily drama). Regarding weapons, an additional reason prevails on the previous one: the power of military\u2013industrial complex…\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
We know that you talked about Timothy McVeigh. This means that you\u00a0see a\u00a0potential link between the 2nd amendment and terrorism risk. Don’t you?<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Talking about his right to keep and bear arms, somebody focused my attention on\u00a0the general political corruption and also, on\u00a0a potential fight against the Federal Government… So, based on his foolish\u00a0opinion, I asked him: “Please, let me know: was Timothy McVeigh a patriot? Did he fight against a tyrannical and evil Government, just to protect his own human\/civil rights”? I’m still waiting for a reasonable response…<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Regarding the Federal\u00a0Government, we know that several readers\u00a0believe\u00a0that their right to be armed is a “guarantee” against Tyranny. What do you think about that?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, I was shocked to know that they are obsessed with Washington’s (alleged) abuses. They are scared to\u00a0be overpowered by an \u00a0unjust Power\/Authority. Meanwhile, I explained to myself, in example, the reasons why of the shooting of Oregon protester…\u00a0I’m sure that if SCOTUS unanimously decided to amend the whole bill of rights every “patriot”\u00a0should be ready for another civil war.<\/span><\/p>\n

What’s your opinion about the freedom of speech.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As you can imagine, it’s one of the most important “brick” of our society. Without freedom of speech there’s no Democracy and there’s no Liberty as well. Sometimes, during my discussions I talked about the 1st amendment, as a provocation. I’m well advised that US Constitution refers only to American citizens, but it’s my right to say what I think is wrong in its prescriptions. So, as I strongly believe in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I repeat: it’s my opinion that the 2nd amendment is a very old rule which is not a good one for the XXI Century.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you think about President Barack Obama? Did he react\u00a0properly to the problem?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, I cannot judge a lonely man against a whole Nation. I can just say that I heard lots of words… As you know, nothing’s really changed since Michael Moore directed “Bowling for Columbine”…<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there any comment that impressed you more than the others?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, yes. There was a guy, James C., that accused me to write for money… He talked about “Paid Government sleaze”… I’m still checking with my bank, among my entries, but my deposit did not increase yet. LOL.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you receive any threats?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, unfortunately, some guys threatened me, instead of talking in a civil and polite way. I’m pretty sure that the FBI has already taken note of their “opinions”…<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you wanna send a message to your readers?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, among the readers who approved my position by supporting me during the debate, one\u00a0said: “if you will notice conservative people in the USA have a lot of trouble with facts so they just make stuff up or get their “facts” of a John Wayne movie. It would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad”.\u00a0Following his lesson, I want to say that I have lots of friends and colleagues that “confirm” his inflexible opinion about conservative people, in the US. On the other hand, I’m very pleased to have lots of friends and colleagues which confirm my opinion that from Boston to LA, there are lots of smart, good and beautiful people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our different visions depend on a cultural divide between Europe and the US. Obviously, I have not the right to say that my vision is better than theirs, but, it’s a fact that what usually happens on the other side of the Ocean appears a little bit strange to Europeans’ eyes. So, OK, in the land of cowboys the Government cannot annoy its citizens, but, maybe, citizens could open their minds, by accepting to reconsider some “human rights” (the 2nd amendment, in example), for their safety and for the safety of their own community.<\/span><\/p>\n

God bless America… God save America from its “sons of a gun”.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the Editorial Board.<\/span><\/p>\n

P.S. Special thanks to Jimmy H., Embry L. W., Glenn S. and Ronnie D. L., for their precious support.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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