Monday, April 26, 2010

Simply Despicable

Facebook has become almost a part of our culture. That is quite an accomplishment, considering it has been around for only six or eight years. A good part of the reason for its success is undoubtedly its simplicity of use. The bad part about that is in how it allows easy access for the lesser elements of society to trump up their poor causes and bad jokes.

More than a million people have become fans of a facebook page calling on folks to pray for the death of President Barack Obama. Whether this is meant as honest sentiment or a joke in very poor taste seems irrelevant. It goes beyond free speech, lending question to whether we Americans are as considerate of others as we should be.

Facebook says that it meets their guidelines. If so, then their guidelines are in need of a thorough review. Incendiary speech is rarely in good form, no matter how you slice it. How can these folks ever hope to gain disciples if all they spew is hate?

To be sure, the President and his liberal allies are in need of a sharp rebuke. But let that rebuke be at the polling places in November, and not at the hands of fate. Or worse, at the hands of a renegade who believes fate is on his side.

Free speech is never, ultimately, free. Let is hope we do not pay too great of a price for this travesty.

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