Category Archives: Freedom

Mainstream of Indias freedom movements was shaped largely by Gandhi-led agitations. There were revolutionaries, but they were ruthlessly repressed by Government forces and continuously censured by the Gandhian leadership of Congress.

They had to go underground to carry out sporadic violent attacks on British officers. On the surface, the Gandhian path reigned supreme.

Gandhi emphasised redressal of grievance without annoying the perpetrator of injustice. The pattern was set in South Africa with his experiment called

Satyagraha. How did he launch it and how successful was this movement? When the Asiatic law amendment act was passed in the Transvaal Parliament to make it obligatory for Indians to give finger impressions for registration, Gandhi called for a non-violent rejection of this new rule.

It was immediately found attractive by both Indian businessmen and indentured labourers in South Africa. There was now a hope of salvaging their dignity without risking great sacrifice. Thus began Satyagraha in South Africa. It led to mass arrests and authorities resorted to shooting, as and when the agitators refused to court arrest peacefully.

Meanwhile, Gandhi entered into a strange agreement with the Transvaal colonial Secretary General J.C. Smuts which ended the movement in a bizarre compromise.

People were asked to give finger impressions voluntarily and not following the new Act.

In other words, they were asked to accept the insult voluntarily. An assurance was given that the Act would be repealed if people did it. Gandhi himself did it in reverence to the settlement and many followed his example despite having doubts about the governments real intention.

Soon, the doubts were proved correct. The government refused to withdraw the act. Later, the entire atmosphere became explosive when a judgment of the Cape Supreme Court invalidated all Indian marriages. Resentments spread to different sections of South African Indians in different forms. Indian workers in the coal-mining area of Natal declared a strike; they were flogged indiscriminately and robbed of their household properties.

Gandhi rushed to Newcastle and led 5,000 workers to enter Transvaal crossing the border.

The tension was diffused by putting them behind bars.

Thousands of Indian workers in the sugar plantations, municipality and in the Railways, almost the entire Indian working class in South Africa, started agitations. Mine-workers were ordered to resume work in the mines without any arrangement of food.

They refused to work. Authorities pounced upon them with floggings and firings.

Many were injured and several killed. Gandhi himself said Government adopted the policy of blood and iron. Nevertheless, while proposing a march from Durban, he privately negotiated for an interview with Smuts.

The interview was granted and Gandhi postponed the march. This was the beginning of an opposition driven less by the objective of fighting injustice done by the ruler than by the agenda of winning the trust of the ruler. In 1913, in an interview given to Reuter, Gandhi claimed to rank amongst the staunchest loyalists alike to the Imperial Government as to the Union Government and, his loyalty being rather to the constitution than to persons, was unaffected by acts of Government, however harsh he might consider them to be.

The foundation of the mainstream that grew out of it culminated in negotiations for transfer of Power in India.

This loyalty informed his letter to Tilak dated 25 August 1918. He said that instead of attending the ensuing special session of Congress at Bombay, he would like to go for recruitment of Indians in the British Indian Army in the World War as he firmly believed it would be a great service to India.

He never lost faith in the rulers benevolence. So much so, that the idea of destruction of the empire horrified him. In South Africa he refused to start movements against the government when the European workers in the Railways were on strike.

The most clinching aspect of his strategy of compromise is his reaction to the Jalianwalla Bagh mass killing. The letter he wrote on 30 May 1919 to S.R. Hignell, private secretary to the Viceroy after the massacre, reveals his intentions.

He gave an assurance that he had not publicly said anything about the Punjab event; he could not form any opinion because he had no reliable data; he was unwilling to do anything calculated needlessly to irritate local authority and he was not prepared to infer from Dyers severe administration that martial law would be unduly hard.

Gandhi claimed that he had no reliable data, but what was the necessity of assuring the government that he had not made any public declaration on the Punjab event? Besides, Rabindranath Tagore, about this time, had renounced his knighthood as a mark of protest against the Jalianwalla Bagh massacre. Was the bard misinformed about the incident? In his speech to the students and teachers at Surat, Gandhi said, the men and women who died in Jalianwalla Bagh were not martyrs and heroes.

Finally, for General Dyer, the only punishment he recommended was stopping of his pension. Such love for the adversary, we were told, was the essence of Satyagraha. If it is argued that Gandhis observations have been selectively chosen out of context, one should only focus on his general attitude towards the state.

In Satyagraha in South Africa, in the context of supporting the British in the Boer war, he wrote: justice is on the side of the Boers but every single subject of a state must not hope to enforce his private opinionauthorities may not always be right but so long subjects owe allegiance to a state, it is their clear duty to accord their support to acts of the state.

His objective of freedom was freedom of the subjects of the Empire. The firebrand Nehru opposed the compromise scheme, and once stood for complete Independence. In his letter of 11 January 1928 to Gandhi, he even rejected the idea of Hind Swaraj. But, when Gandhi asked him to unfurl his own banner and threatened that he would publish the letter to bring the differences into the public domain, Nehru pleaded for reconciliation and requested not to publish his letter of 11 January.

The Left challenge within the Congress was muted by forcing Subhas Chandra Bose to resign and Left consolidation outside the Congress could not crystalise due to foreign mentors interference. In the closing years of the freedom movement, when the INA trial and the Naval Mutiny brought about an opportunity of direct revolt against the Raj, the mainstream leaders did whatever they could to stop the dangerous development.

The end game was played by presenting Mountbatten as the new messiah of independence. Radcliffes cartographical horror in the name of partition, at the behest of this messiah, was condoned. On 15 August 1947 after thenational flag was unfurled on the council House all the way back to the Government House the cries of Jai Hind were mixed with Mountbatten ki jai and even Pandit Mountbatten [Alan Cambell Johnson: Mission with Mountbatten].

Was there really any scope for an alternative? Let us find out.

(To Be Concluded)

The writer is former Head of the Department of Political Science, Presidency College, Kolkata

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Road to Freedom~I - The Statesman

Grab the best deals on Kitchen appliances

Amazon Freedom Day sale will be live from August 5th to 9th ; and we can't keep calm because it's getting bigger and better! With lucrative discounts and exceptional deals, this is just the right time for you to get shopping. The 5-day sale brings a plethora of options for buyers - one of them being the kitchen appliances. And if you are looking to revamp your kitchen on a budget, well there couldn't possibly be a better time to do this than this weekend! From chimneys to microwave ovens, here is a list of essential appliances and the amazing deals you can avail. Read on.

Have you been thinking of replacing that old and boring refrigerator with something fancy and better, but scared of the budget? Well, fret not because Amazon Freedom Day Sale brings some amazing offers on refrigerators. During this time, you can avail refrigerators starting from Rs.6,790. Sounds interesting, right? So, what are you waiting for? Now, change the old refrigerator, without a dent in your pocket. Here are some of the refrigerators that are on sale:

The kitchen is a hot and greasy place, and if you don't have a proper outlet for all that steam, your kitchen will soon start showing the signs with greasy and dull-looking walls and ceilings. That is where a chimney comes to the rescue; it helps you cook delicious dishes while keeping the look of your kitchen clean and neat. With almost 55% off on these chimneys, you don't need to wait long for the kitchen of your dreams. Here are some of the options :

We love cooking and experimenting in our kitchens. But doing the dishes after that can be tedious and time-taking. Well, thankfully we have a dishwasher to solve the issue. This appliance is a must-have in every household. Just keep those used utensils in the dishwasher and you can forget the rest. You will get clean and shiny utensils in just no time. If you've ever been confused about whether to get this appliance or not, let us makes things easier for you. Here're some dishwashers which are available for up to 30% off. Take a look:

If you think microwaves are a thing of the past, then you are highly mistaken. Microwaves are still one of the most used kitchen appliances and have multiple usages. From the daily reheating to quick-cooking needs - our microwaves do it all. Use this freedom day sale as an excuse to revamp your microwave corner and get a beautiful new microwave for up to 45% off. These are some of the options that you can avail during the sale:

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Originally posted here:

Amazon Freedom Day Sale 2021: Fridge, Microwave Oven And More - Kitchen Appliances With Discounts And Offer - NDTV

Elon Musk's Twitter posts are as popular as him. They have been known to move cryptocurrency values, promote space travel, bring attention to electric mobility and showcase the billionaire's views on a plethora of subjects of his interest. On Friday, Musk once again took to the microblogging site to respond to a two-word question: "Define freedom."

The Tesla CEO put on his philosophical hat and replied: "Maximum set of possible future actions".

And like it usually happens, Musk's response gathered numerous comments. Many comments emulated Musk's philosophical tone.

"Way too simple, have to constrain and make choices (and own them) to truly be free," one user wrote.

While another replied, "Freedom isn't free, it costs folks like you and me."

One of the comments read, "Does reality have infinite degrees of freedom?". This was followed by another comment that said "It depends on whether youre talking about the very next action you can take (possibly limited to a discrete list of items that youre free to do) or a decision tree of acts youre free to do, which explodes into a more continuous (practically limitless list of possibilities)."

One Dave Smith had this to say.

Another comment read, "Enhancement Maximum set of possible future actions across all peoples" If your choices/actions reduced my choices/actions then WE have not maximised freedom!"

Meanwhile, others saw this as an opportunity to crack jokes (read memes).

One user came up with a very ambitious response to Musk's comment.

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'Define freedom'. This is what Elon Musk had to say - Mint

To say Americas Freedom Festival at Provo was a success, could be a slight understatement.

It appears that a year without the Fourth of July celebrations left many people wanting to celebrate this summer.

From the packed Freedom Awards Gala at the Utah Valley Convention Center to the Grand Parade that festival leaders say topped 300,000 people lining University Avenue and Center Street, it appears the festival is back.

While the crowds meandered through Freedom Days in downtown Provo, residents also filed into LaVell Edwards Stadium for Stadium of Fire, and also gathered outside the stadium to watch the fireworks. Thousands of residents woke up early to see the popular Balloon Festival at sunrise.

While that was happening in Provo, in Orem the Colonial Heritage Festival leadership at the Scera Park say it was one of the largest attended festivals in its 15-year history.

Inside at the SCERA Center for the Arts, the production Cries of Freedom had full audiences at every showing. Next door the Brent Ashworth American Heritage Museum was full all the time.

We had big crowds, Ashworth said. The biggest crowds weve ever had. Hundreds of people came through.

From the Childrens Parade to the Flag Retirement ceremony individuals and families had days of activities to celebrate independence.

We are so thrilled as a Freedom Festival that we were able to provide our events this year to our community, said Jim Evans, executive director. As I sat in the stadium on July 3 watching everyone enter I felt a deep gratitude to God that we could once again provide this wonderful event for all the families that come every year.

Being able to once again hold the Stadium of Fire provided a patriotic healing ointment to soothe troubled hearts, Evans added.

The lump in my throat has never been any bigger then when I rode down the parade route and witnessed the thousands of individuals, children and families celebrating the freedoms that we enjoy in our country, Evans said. Im so grateful to the thousand-plus volunteers that worked for months to make our Freedom Festival an overwhelming success. It was so inspirational to be back this year. God Bless America!

So, now that the 2021 festival is in the history books, whats next?

If you live in any one of the other cities or towns in Utah County there is still a lot of celebrating to be done. From rodeos, parades, carnivals and more, Utah County cities are known for their summer celebrations.

If Americas Freedom Festival or any of the earlier city celebrations that have seen multitudes of residents attend is any indication, the upcoming summer celebrations are on track to be bigger and better than ever.

Read more:

Big return of Freedom Festival has organizers seeing red, white and blue - Daily Herald

Before we get to D.C. United getting some plaudits, a true story: I almost forgot that today was Tuesday. Between having a game to cover on a Friday (not Saturday) and the holiday weekend, the result was just I guess this amount of time was only two days! But it turns out its not! Its Tuesday! Here are some soccer links!

Armas out, Austin find the gas & more from Week 11 | MLSsoccer.comThe headline points elsewhere, but Matt Doyle gets right to the DCU in this post. Hes also seeing what weve been saying on Filibuster for a while now: Uniteds good.

The league site picked their Team of the Week, and included Andy Najar and Kevin Paredes...but didnt go with Hernn Losada to coach the team.

Najar was robbed of Player of the Week, which brings me back to a long-standing issue I have as a voter in that poll: there are 13 games on just about every MLS weekend, and with this years congested schedule, you often have to bundle in mid-week games too. How is anyone supposed to vote with any degree of accuracy with 26-50 hours of soccer to have watched, and often under 24 hours in which to send your vote in?

Moving on from voting process minutiae, Venezuelan reports have United expanding their roster for the Capital Cup (which starts tomorrow!), with Jovanny Bolivar and Darluis Paz reportedly coming up from Loudoun:

It wouldnt surprise me to see United call on some other Loudoun players, particularly for this first game given that it comes mid-week. Well try to track down more on this between now and tomorrows game. Speaking of, we have travel rosters for Alajuelense and Alianza.

Recap: USWNT 4 Mexico 0 | The Bent MusketThe Washington Spirit were represented on both sides of last nights game: for the USWNT, Kelley OHara went 90 minutes at right back, and Emily Sonnett played the final 22 minutes at left back. Meanwhile, new signing Karina Rodriguez played 34 minutes at center back for Mexico.

Onto some really bad news: for the second time this season, a Loudoun United opponent has been on the receiving end of racist abuse:

Its really disgusting, and I hope the investigation comes to a more clear conclusion this time. As a fanbase and as a region, weve gotta make sure this is not part of the culture here.

Charlotte FC to hire Miguel ngel Ramrez as first head coach | The AthleticIt sounds like Charlotte FC has taken a coach that wants to build for the long term as their first coach. I wonder how he feels about them having already filled 20% of their roster spots.

Battle for Possession Will Be Key as Italy Takes on Spain in Euro 2020 Semis at Wembley | Chiesa Di TottiEuro 2020, the tournament happening in 2021, continues today with what sounds like a very fun semifinal.

Well, Im very close to falling asleep, so Ill shut up now. Enjoy your Tuesday!

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Tuesday Freedom Kicks: D.C. United getting respect, USWNT wins, and more - Black And Red United

Staff report| Erie Times-News

Thoughts on freedom shared during Juneteenth celebration

Slam poet, Alex Brown, shares his thoughts on the concept of freedom during the Juneteenth holiday celebration at Ypao Beach Park on Saturday, June 19, 2021.

Rick Cruz/PDN

What does freedom mean to you?

As this Fourth of July holiday arrives, it's a good time to reflect on the past 15 months of COVID-19 lockdowns, vaccines, social unrest, a contentious election season and our own various setbacks and successes in the daily rhythms of life.

Take a breath and reflect on freedom and its meaning in your life. Someof your neighbors already have. Here's what they had to say:

My parents are labor camp survivors. Theyimmigrated from Ukraine and Russia (separately) to the United States after World War II. They were classified as "displaced" people without a country. So I am a first-generation American, along with my six siblings.

Growing up, I saw their past experiences in their eyes, actions and spirit. They had determination to make the best of what the United States could offer. Yes we struggled. Times were tough, but we learned that freedom is what choices we choose. There were standard rules in society but also freedom to explore and create.

My mother, EugeniaLiniewicz, turned 93 on Flag Day. She always felt lucky to have that day as this countrys honorable flag day. We work hard and love this country and northwestern Pennsylvania.

Nadine Comeau, 60, Millcreek Township

Freedom is the societal obligation we have to all of the other members of our society to not infringe upon their ability to realize their concept of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So, it is our mutual respect for each other in realizing these tenets, as long as we are not infringing on others' abilities to do the same. Therefore, first and foremost, freedom is not the release from rules of any sort but the obligation to respect each other's beliefs and the realization of those beliefs within our daily lives as long as one is not impeding the ability of another to do the same.

The only way to solve the majority of today's problems is to invest in them. That does not mean to subsidize parts of society, the environment and or the economy but to pay (for) them either a true value for their "labors/contribution,"i.e., at least the value of a human life with dignity.

So, let's start remembering that our economy was invented to create and distribute wealth, not to centralize it.

Bruce Kibler, 64, of Millcreek

At 18, I left my small town about an hour outside of Pittsburgh to bowl collegiately at the Division I level in Brooklyn, New York.I was lucky enough to land an internship at a forging company in the Pittsburgh area. I was never exposed to manufacturing beforehand, but once on-site, I fell in love (with it).

Freedom is the opportunity to educate yourself and pursue your passions. I think it's really cool to have the opportunity to learn, which took me to Brooklyn, New York (for college), and brought me to Erie (for work). Every day I try to learn something new. I had the freedom to acknowledgemy dreams and follow them.

Taylor Smith, 22, Millcreek Township. Marketing coordinator for Onex, Inc.

If you ask what "freedom" means, most will say it's the ability to do what they want. According to Dictionary.com, its "an absence of undue restrictions and an opportunity to exercise one's rights and powers." This is short-sighted. It should include beliefs, responsibilitiesand conscience. Freedom allows people to believe what they believe and to live accordingly within reason.

What I experienced during the pandemic were undue restrictions. To appear to be doing something, officials invented new restrictions. More significantly, citizens neighbors took on the role of a high-ranking government official, parent, masteror god, declaring, Thou shalt not ... ! using verbal abuse rather than entreaty or good argument to convince those around them to change their behavior.

My issue wasnt with whether or not to wear a mask. My issue was with the swiftness with which my freedom and my equality were denied by those who chose propaganda and power over persuasion, and control of others over control of themselves. Had I attempted to impose my beliefs on them, they would have called me a monster. But the imposition of beliefs is always justified by the imposer and freedom is forfeit when power and control sing their siren song.

Karen Keil, 59, Erie

Freedom starts in the mind and in the heart. The Good Book says, "and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8:32)."With this foundation, the happenings of all life's experiences are made much lighter. The real race is life.

Gary Amsden, 83, Erie

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Fourth of July reflection: What does freedom mean to you? - GoErie.com

Anne Buckvold| Times Writers Group

I just wanted to run up and slap them! It was May 2021. She looked about 70 something, whitehair and a wet suit clinging to her seemingly intact and lusty body. The recipient of her fury,another woman from the class, looked aghast. Two women had brazenly walked out of Walmart,maskless. She didnt lose her temper that day, instead she unleashed it in the YMCA lockerroom.

Its been over a year since the pandemic hit, and masks have more or less fallen upon us. Weall have our opinions.

Ive had experienceswhich have caused concern. Even before the pandemic, I knew if my childcontracted a disease, it could effect her ability to determine what and how to do things. In short,disease, and now coronavirus, could impact her freedom.

I learned quickly however, that the rest of my world didnt necessarily share my concern. Toothers, freedom means something different. My daughters neurological health isnt somethingeveryone will consider. Even St. Joseph city council leaders didnt mask up once we beganmeeting in person again in May of 2020. At one point our police chief said he didnt think wecould force people to wear masks, only educate them on the benefits. To his credit, I think hewas right, despite the popularity of lawn signs supporting law enforcement around town.

People have preferences, even regarding something as fundamental as the laws governing ourcollective well being or wait, is it our freedom theyre meant to protect?

Now over half of Minnesotans have been vaccinated, a half million have had the virus. We havean increased knowledge of this virus. Were all tired of it, the virus, the masks, their usage andnon, the gravity of having lost loved ones. We navigate this pandemic daily, as well as ourrelated feelings. The burning question, When will this end?

I stopped to get gas and grab a slice of pizza. No time to grab the paper, but the headlinecaught my eye, How do we know when the pandemic is over? I glanced quick at the contentsuggesting it would end at a different time and a different way for each of us. A wave of reliefrushed over me.

Its easier to concern ourselves with others instead of developing a healthy degree of self focus.

Ideals dont matter as much as pragmatics when raising kids. The chances my daughter willcontract COVID in her lifetime are good. I hope shell meet it the same she would any adversity:with a strength of spirit that enriches the quality of her character and leaves her sense offreedom intact. Freedom doesnt promise life or safety. Risk abounds at every turn. Life is atantalizing event, if we let her be.

Greatness is a direction, preaches Pastor James Alberts. Our country is headed in a direction.

My gut tells me, itll never be one in lockstep. Well go lots of places.

Its the fourth of July. People are traveling everywhere and flames shoot up and out over the sky,in all directions. My mind goes to an early morning conversation I had recently with my dad. He reminded me of the seven deadly sins: pride, lust, anger, gluttony, greed, envy and sloth. Ivebeen mulling these over, mentally cleaning house. Sin is harmful, unhealthy, inefficient, clutter and things that makes me feel less free. Ill ditch anger, no sense getting trapped in that.

Gluttony? I don't eat modestly because its good for my body. I practice restraint because itmakes me feel more free I get a feeling, not a lower calorie count. I want to feel as free ashumanly possible. But freedom to do what exactly?

I reflect on the actions of our forefathers, and what theyve afforded me - a white woman sittingin the middle of lake country. Perhaps no direction is greater than self-direction and I thankGod, Ive been given the freedom to exercise that.

Anne Buckvold is a member of the Times Writers' Group. She is a social worker, organizer and artist who lives in St.Joseph with her family. Her column appears on the second Thursday of the month.

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Freedom unmasked: Pandemic unveils the limits and boundlessness of choice - SC Times

Privacy stolen by code enforcement officer

As I headed into the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate our independence, I couldnt help but reflect ona sense of freedom lost as a resident ofSarasotaCounty.

On June 2, the Herald-Tribune reported the widespread practices ofcountycode enforcement employeeHarveyAyers,who is accused of illegally invading the privacy of countless citizens by creeping around their homes and taking pictures through windows and doors, without the homeowners' permission or a warrant (Sarasota code enforcement officer is accused of bullying and stalking. But official complaints receive little response).

Our privacy is as American as apple pie. Government employees peering through windows and photographing inside our homes could not be anymore un-American.

When pictures of my living room and the art on my walls became part of a public file, I felt like I lost my freedom and right to privacy.

More: How to send a letter to the editor

Ayers knows better. As a former police officer, he knows hesnot permitted to traipse around citizens property in an overzealousquest to find unpermitted work.

This country won its independence so its people would not fear the type of unreasonable intrusion perpetrated by Sarasota County code enforcementand ignored byofficials.

Karl Jasinski, Siesta Key

Save filibuster, save us from mob rule

It is inexcusable that the Herald-Tribune chose to reprint the Palm Beach Post editorial, For sake of our future, kill the filibuster, on the Fourth of July weekend (July 3).

The writer of that editorial needs to read the Declaration of Independence, specifically, …that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights …that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted …

The simple purpose of the filibuster is to protect individual rights (such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) from the tyranny of mob rule.

If you support mob rule (as, apparently, the Palm Beach Post and the Herald-Tribune do), sure, kill the filibuster.

Daniel J. Maksymowicz, Venice

Trump again celebrates himself, not U.S.

On July 4, 2019, President Donald Trump celebrated Independence Day and himself at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., with all branches of the military present and a flyover by the Blue Angels.

On July 3, 2020, soon-to-be-former President Trump, in his own inimical and self-aggrandizing style, celebrated Independence Day with a massive fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, in South Dakota.

On July 3 of this year, Trump visited the Sarasota Fairgrounds, not to celebrate Independence Day but to hold a revenge rally asking his ardent supporters to stoke his ego and to perpetuate the Big Lie, that the election was stolen from him.

This great nation was founded on July 4, 1776. And, despite turmoil and trials, our democratic republic has survived and made progress for 245 years.

It did that because of people and presidents who put the country before themselves. It will not survive much longer if we allow the interests of one person to be put before that of the country.

Edwin T. Crego Jr., Sarasota

Ex-presidents rally not that newsworthy

Was there a good reason for devoting half of the front page July 5, plus half of 7A and half of 8A, to the rants of our ex-president (We couldnt miss it for the world: Trump supporters descend on Sarasota for rally)?

Was there anything newsworthy? If you are going to give free advertising to Donald Trump, how about the bottom of a left-hand page?

Come to think of it, the advertising isn't even free. Your readers and advertisers are paying for it and Im not sure that this reader, for one, wants to pay for it.

Bill Riesz, Venice

Beware of snake oil salesmen spreading lies

The July 5 headline, Former President Trump rallies in Sarasota, should read, Snake oilsalesmancomes to town.

Beware of snake oil salesmen bearing gifts and falsehoods. We had one in Sarasota on July 3. They travel the country and draw huge crowds because people are looking for a cure for a problem that doesnt exist.

The election in November was the most secure in American history, certified by Republican and Democratic officials elected by their constituents. Ask former President Trumps own attorney general, Bill Barr, who won the election.

Norma Dayton, Venice

In Nevada, county approves Dead-End Road

Regarding the county in Nevada that wants to change the name of a road in honor of ex-president Donald Trump, I can only surmise that it is a dead-end road.

Paul Bond, Venice

Anti-Christian sentiment fair game

Regarding the July 5 Wumo cartoon, on 7C: If this were portraying Judaism, the antisemitic scream would be deafening. Apparently, anti-Christian especially anti-Catholic is fair game.

Helen Lawrence, Venice

Go here to read the rest:

Wednesday's letters: Freedom and privacy lost, save the filibuster, Trump celebration - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Editors Note: On July 4, 1821, then-Secretary of State John Quincy Adams gave the following Independence Day speech.

And now, friends and countrymen, if the wise and learned philosophers of the elder world, the first observers of nutation and aberration, the discoverers of maddening ether and invisible planets, the inventors of Congreve rockets and Shrapnel shells, should find their hearts disposed to enquire what has America done for the benefit of mankind?

Let our answer be this: America, with the same voice which spoke herself into existence as a nation, proclaimed to mankind the inextinguishable rights of human nature, and the only lawful foundations of government. America, in the assembly of nations, since her admission among them, has invariably, though often fruitlessly, held forth to them the hand of honest friendship, of equal freedom, of generous reciprocity.

She has uniformly spoken among them, though often to heedless and often to disdainful ears, the language of equal liberty, of equal justice, and of equal rights.

She has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own.

She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart.

She has seen that probably for centuries to come, all the contests of that Aceldama the European world, will be contests of inveterate power, and emerging right.

Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be.

But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.

She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.

She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.

She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example.

She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom.

The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force.

She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit.

[Americas] glory is not dominion, but liberty. Her march is the march of the mind. She has a spear and a shield: but the motto upon her shield is, Freedom, Independence, Peace. This has been her Declaration: this has been, as far as her necessary intercourse with the rest of mankind would permit, her practice.

John Quincy Adams was the eighth secretary of state of the United States, and went on to become the sixth president.

Image: Wikicommons (Smithsonian Institution)

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John Quincy Adams on Freedom, Independence, and Peace - War on the Rocks

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are among 2021's most effective "press freedom predators," a watchdog says.

Xi and Putin, along with other world leaders such as Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are among the "37 heads of state or government who crack down massively on press freedom," according to a report by Reporters Without Borders released on Friday.

"Each of these predators has [his or her] own style," RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said. "Some impose a reign of terror by issuing irrational and paranoid orders. Others adopt a carefully constructed strategy based on draconian laws. A major challenge now is for these predators to pay the highest possible price for their oppressive behavior. We must not let their methods become the new normal."

HONG KONG NEWSPAPER PRINTS OVER 400,000 MORE COPIES AFTER EDITORS ARE ARRESTED

Nearly half of the "predators" are appearing on the list for the first time, with MBS and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose "aggressive and crude rhetoric about the media has reached new heights since the start of the pandemic," among the new entrants.

The list also includes two women for the first time, dubbing chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam a "puppet of Chinese President Xi Jinping [who] now openly supports his predatory policies towards the media" and accusing Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's prime minister, of "predatory exploits," including "the adoption of a digital security law in 2018 that has led to more than 70 journalists and bloggers being prosecuted."

Many of the countries whose leaders made the list are marked red or black on RSF's press freedom map, meaning those nations are "bad" or "very bad" for journalism, respectively.

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In November of last year, China, which is black on the press freedom map, pursued charges against Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer who reported from Wuhan in the early days of the outbreak, accusing her of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" for her work uncovering the Chinese communist regime's attempt to censor early reports of the emergent coronavirus. After a three-hour trial, she was sentenced to four years in prison.

In May, Ted Lipien, who previously served as president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, accused Putin of "blackmailing the media organization funded by U.S. taxpayers, issuing fines and threats of criminal prosecutions unless Radio Liberty agrees to play by his rules" in an attempt to run the media organization out of Russia. Putin responded, "Unfortunately, the American media don't completely comply with the requirements of Russian law."

A record number of journalists were jailed because of their work in 2020, with at least 274 journalists sent to prison in relation to their work as of Dec. 1 of last year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. CPJ faulted "lack of global leadership on democratic values particularly from the United States, where [former] President Donald Trump has inexhaustibly denigrated the press and cozied up to dictators such as Egyptian President Abdelfattah el-Sisi" for "perpetuat[ing] the crisis."

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The U.S. has taken steps toward shoring up international press freedom, with Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Kaine proposing the International Press Freedom Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill that would promote global press freedom.

The bill, proposed in April, is being considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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Tags: News, Press Freedom, Journalism, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Mohammed bin Salman , Narendra Modi

Original Author: Carly Roman

Original Location: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin named among 37 'press freedom predators'

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Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin named among 37 'press freedom predators' - Yahoo News