The Wait is Over: Announcing the 2012 Jefferson Muzzles!
For the 21st consecutive year, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has awarded “Jefferson Muzzles” to those who in the previous year committed particularly egregious or ridiculous affronts to free expression. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Center announces the dubious honors each year on or near the April 13 birth date of its namesake.
Listed below, in no particular order, are summaries of all the 2012 Jefferson Muzzles. More information on each “winner” can be found on the official page of the Jefferson Muzzles.
Okay, I will turn my head and cough, but don’t you dare ask me about my 357 Magnum.
The Florida Legislature and Florida Governor Rick Scott for passing the Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act, a law restricting what Florida physicians may say to their patients regarding guns and gun safety.
You are cordially invited to the U.S. State Department Conference on Free Speech*
*The U.S. State Department reserves the right to exclude speech that conflicts with U.S. policy objectives, and to rescind the invitation of any invitee who expresses criticism of said policies or those of our allies.
The U.S. State Department for rescinding the invitation to a Palestinian cartoonist to participate in a conference focusing on free speech because some of his cartoons were deemed to be anti-Semitic.
Houston, we have an expletive.
Sam Houston State University (Texas) Professor Joe Kirk and the University Police Department for their respective actions involving a temporary campus “free speech wall” on which students were invited to write whatever they wanted. Professor Kirk literally cut the “F-word” from the wall where it was utilized to criticize President Obama. The university police then threatened to arrest any students who attempted to write the offending word again.
“Don’t get strung out by the way I look. Don’t judge a book by its cover.” – Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Mayor Wayne Garner of Carrollton, Georgia for unilaterally canceling a previously-approved community theater production of The Rocky Horror Show at a publicly-owned venue. The show was in rehearsal when a cast member posted a video clip on his personal Facebook page. When the Mayor saw the clip, he canceled the already advertised production.
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more: http://www.tjcenter.org/2012/04/11/for-your-listening-pleasure/
I threw my irony meter away.
It was beyond repair.
