Silencing dissent
"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech." - Benjamin Franklin.
"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one unAmerican act that could most easily defeat us." - William O. Douglas, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear." - President Harry S. Truman's message to Congress on the internal security of the United States, Aug. 8, 1950 .
In 2009 the Department of Homeland Security declared that Iraq/Afghanistan war veterans, those who oppose abortion and folks who support the U.S. Constitution are potential terrorists. Even worse is expressing opinions critical of the president or the ruling elite.
By contrast, President Truman's statement indicates that by " silencing the voice of opposition" the government itself " becomes a source of terror."
Those statements show that the government is opposed to the First Amendment. Think about the implications.
Bridger Barnett
Clarkston
Championship season
In 1959 and 1960, I played football at Salmon River High School in Riggins. We put together a 16-game winning streak, which at that time was the longest win streak in the state.
This year's 2013 football team at Salmon River captured their second straight state football championship at the end of 17 straight wins. Congratulations on a job well done. May your winning ways continue.
Go Savages.
Steve Rice
Lewiston
Likes Hall; loves cats
Bill Hall, this is for you: Years ago my family was owned by a big Siamese tom, Ah Fong, who was a sneaky wool-eater. If you watched television, that cat on your lap could eat a hole in your sweater and you would never know it. He liked wool socks too.
Ah Fong also loved tomato juice. If one left a full glass where he could get it, it would be half gone. So we watched; saw when he couldn't get his nose in, he used one paw, then licked it. When empty, that cat rolled his paw into a fist, swabbed the last dregs, then licked his paw clean.
Ah Fong used the bathroom facility, too, but never learned to flush.
Another Siamese/Persian tom would, when bedtime neared and outdoors loomed, disappear. We saw him go down the hall, slip a black paw under the pocketdoor on our daughter's bedroom, slide it open, go in, then pull it shut behind him.
Bill, since your Sunday articles are no longer political, I find myself identifying with you quite often and see you as a cat lover. I know you would never say animals are stupid.
Flora Teachman
Kamiah
