Speaking out
A common assumption regarding freedom of speech is that power and 'speaking out' are always linked together. The people in power are the ones who announce the agenda; they are the ones with the privilege of expressing themselves, and they use their power to silence the powerless. In the democratic United States, the power of the people is vouchsafed by our ability to speak out against those who are attempting to coerce us. In particular, we have a free press, which allows us to formulate and express opinions that are not identical with the ones prescribed by politicians and wealthy demagogues.
But speech is not always representative of power, and, as we all know, the press is not always the voice of the people. Foucault uses the model of Catholic confession to demonstrate that sometimes the powerful figure is the one listening, while the powerless figure is the one being compelled to generate a whole host of personal 'truths.' Similarly, Judith Miller is not exercising freedom of the press when she allows herself to become the mouthpiece for corrupt politicians who are, in fact, so powerful that they don't have to speak, who instead have the ability to arrange for their dangerous, anti-democratic truths to emerge from the mouth of the 'free press.' Her sources are the very people from whom the free press has fought so hard to remain free. There have always been limits to free speech: there are some things we are simply not allowed to say publicly, and rightly so. The leaking of the name of a CIA agent, for example, is a federal crime; and the fact that Karl Rove et. al. found a loophole through the manipulation of the free press should not be tolerated. Judy Miller knew that she was doing the dirty work of some of the most power-hungry and undemocratic men our country has ever known; and now, after showing such utter contempt for the first amendment, she wants to fashion herself its champion.
posted by Kathy at 1:56 PM
4 Added Something:
Should we punish the messenger?
How are her actions completely free when faced with the most corrupt evil and powerful man in Washington? Yes Karl Rove has his hand up GB arse.
It's Martha all over again.
If you punish her - you have to punish Karl . If Karl doesn't go down than neither should she.
I'm not defending her at all and completely agree with you. But the sad thing is is that people like her and Connie R. are being used and don't even know it. Yes, they're stupid but should they go down, while others remain free, only to be replaced by another ignorant messenger fearing the powers that be and brainwashed by the American Dream.
Onward I say in "The Struggle Against Extremism!" what a load of you know what.
I don't see the relationship between Judy Miller and Martha Stewart. Of course, Rove et al. should be punished. Hopefully, they will be. This isn't over yet, but all Judy Miller has to do to get out of jail is tell what she knows. If, as the Huffington Post indicates, she is possibly complict in the leaking of the CIA agent's name, that would explain a lot about why she isn't talking. And if she does have more information about the Bush administration official who caused the leak, she is protecting a criminal. She isn't the messenger in this case. She's the one who's refusing to be the messenger even though she perhaps holds the key to solving the mystery.
the fact that johnya thought this was written by kathy must mean that i managed to achieve a properly vituperative tone.
you almost had me fooled, Eli. I agree with you and your special mom.
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