Wendy Sullivan attended hearings on free speech (and the lack thereof) in Canada yesterday with Mark Steyn and Kathy Shaidle, and came away with an excellent strategy–equally applicable in the States as it is in the Great White North:
Steyn and Kathy Shaidle made two excellent suggestions that could be applied to any kind of politically based culture war:
* Say “Merry Christmas” in your workplace instead of “Happy Holidays”
* Fight tyrannous regulation by breaking small rules – the reverse of the broken windows theoryIf enough people break a small and oppressive regulation, something will have to be done at the government level. Think Tea Tax and Boston Harbor. Right now the inmates are running the asylum that is America (and Canada, as referenced by Steyn). It’s time for us to revolt. If our phonecalls and pleas to representatives are falling on deaf ears, then we have to do something to make them take notice. No, not bombing a federal building in Oklahoma City. But how about the equivelent of what Mr. Steyn and Ms. Shaidle do every day? They ridicule the rules, post over-the-top and “offensive” articles, and make people laugh at the absurdity of silencing thought and opinion.
The United States Government is stealing not only your money but that of your future generations. Find a small way to break that cycle. Keep America as free as possible.
And here’s one small way to break that cycle, courtesy of Michelle Malkin and blogger Dave G.
(H/T: Melissa Clouthier.)
Related: And speaking of the actual Broken Windows Theory, it’s holding up quite “elegantly” well these days.
Update: Welcome Freepers! Please look around the rest of the blog–while the design is new, there are seven years of posts; so there’s likely to be a few things here you might enjoy.
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4 Comments
1. Teacher in Texas:I teach in a very culturaly mixed, up-scale suburban high school and I have made a point of saying Merry Christmas to all of my students over the years.
I explained it thus, “I will cease saying Merry Christmas when I on Christmas Day I can apply for a passport, have my mail delivered, open a checking account, have my garbage collected, apply for a drivers liscence etc. So until then Merry Christmas to everyone.”
Feb 10, 2009 - 6:09 pm 2. Robert in Texas:I take that one step farther: I frequently get cards from business contacts, suppliers, etc., that say “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings.”
I unfailingly acknowledge receiving the card, but ask,
“What Holiday was it you were celebrating? If it’s Christmas, just say so! If it’s Hannukah, ‘Happy Hannukah’ is fine with me. But if you don’t remember, don’t bother me.”
Step two: Get your concealed weapons permit – even if you don’t own a gun, it’s a right that should be exercised, or like any other unexercised muscle it will atrophy.
Feb 11, 2009 - 7:36 am 3. A simple act of civil disobedience « Nuke’s:[...] Ed Driscoll » “The Reverse Of The Broken Windows Theory” Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Why I don’t get itWhy I Won’t/Will Vote For…Strike back at tax cheat Tim GeithnerShould Congress let Obama’s Treasury pick slide on taxes? [...]
Feb 11, 2009 - 8:47 am 4. The Wide Awake Cafe » The Return of the Doodler:[...] We have to make them care. I’ve always been good at breaking windows and dumping tea when it comes to something I feel strongly about so I am up for Michelle Malkin’s idea. Hat tip: Ed Driscoll [...]
Feb 11, 2009 - 7:01 pmSorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.