United Censorship of America

This is going to be more on the lines of a rant than an informative blog post. I’m really concerned with the steps we are taking as Americans, and how our freedoms are slowly being taken away from us. Currently, so many are blinded by all the events that have gone on that they can only see what’s 6 inches in from of their face instead of the view from 30,000 feet. If you are like me and see things as a big picture rather than the minute details, then you will be able relate to what I am saying.

Social Media

Many of you have been experiencing censorship on the big social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even Twitter to some degree. With the exception of Twitter, the other large social media companies have been ramping up their efforts to censor their users for use of nudity and other “non-compliant” acts as deemed by their “policies”. When accounts get banned, deactivated, or warned, there’s no clear answer as to why they are doing it other than someone doesn’t like what you have posted or said. Granted, they are independent company’s and can generally do what they want, but how far is too far, and where do you draw the line for them to have too much power?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

First Amendment of the United States Constitution

Currently, the federal government cannot pass a law which prohibits the freedom of religion, expression, speech, press, or our ability to peacefully assemble in deviance against the way the government is handling things. This was a fundamental reason why the people of England (and subsequent territories) separated from the King. They did not want to be told what they could say, do, worship, or protest against arcane ways meant to subdue the people. While congress or the other branches of government cannot do this (based on current legislation), that does not stop private companies from enacting their own rules which seem to suit them and their agenda. While it is extremely frustrating for us to have our hand slapped or our accounts suspended for having “too much” nudity displayed, I see it as more than just a protection of their platform and discrimination against a population.

Open To Everyone…Except

Here is where I’m starting to be rubbed the wrong way. I follow a number of people on Twitter with varying views, and I would consider myself to be a moderate. There are things that I agree with and disagree with on both sides of the aisle, but I think each party brings something to the table, including libertarians and other minor parties. What I don’t agree with is silencing someone because you don’t agree with what they are saying or just because they belong to a certain group. The only outcome of this is an escalation of anger among the censored and the people. If you have the power to censor an entire group of people based on their religion, race, status, political affiliation, or any number of protected statuses, then you are essentially discriminating against that group or person. In case you have read that lately, it’s against the law. In America, we are making progress on that front, but we’re just not quite there yet.

Let’s look at the larger picture at hand, silencing or censoring of public/political figures. How many of you remember Ron Paul from back in the day? I remember when he was running for President over 20 years ago. I came across a Tweet the other day where for not apparent reason Ron Paul’s Facebook account was abruptly banned. Facebook offered no reason other than he violated the terms of service, whatever that means. I have not heard or seen anything from Ron Paul in many years, and, to be honest, I didn’t realize he was still alive. I would venture to say he had no part in the fiasco that went on in DC, so why in the world would Facebook ban him for no reason other than he was a figure of the Republican party? I’ve seen no evidence of anything. Discrimination and censorship is a reasonable explanation. What if the story was different and the Democratic party and followers did the same thing? Would the same censorship have occurred? Who knows. In either case, you’d still be reading this with the roles reversed. I don’t agree with censoring anyone for their views.

Web Hosting Companies

Before I started writing this blog post, I was taking a look at Twitter while eating some lunch, and I came across a Tweet by a black follower of mine (@md06john316). Typically, I don’t ever use any kind of racial identification when addressing anyone. I simply don’t see skin color. Only people. However, given the circumstances we are in as a country, I wanted to give a bit of context and understanding. This gentleman had Tweeted about how a legitimate website was taken down by a hosting provider. The largest gun forum on the internet was kicked off the internet without any warning other than they violated the terms of service. There’s that phrase, “terms of service” again.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

Second Amendment of the United States Constitution

This act has many implications for us as Americans and as a community of nudists. I am not at all surprised to see this action come, but I am surprised it came so quickly. For the most part, we have always had a free and open internet, and there have been companies fighting to keep the internet free and open. It’s our best way of free speech and expression, and unless a website is leading some form of violence against people, animals, environment, government, or any number of illegal acts, then we should be allowed to have our businesses or our voices heard. If the gun forum had something on there that was illegal or questionable, then the hosting company should have given them a warning to remove or correct the issue. There maybe more to the story, but the way I see it at face value is the hosting company deliberately silenced a group of people, most likely conservative, in an attempt to censor them.

Whether you agree with the Second Amendment or not is certainly your choice, and you have the right to choose what is best for you. I am a gun owner. I do agree with the Second Amendment, and I personally feel it is essential to our personal safety and the security of our nation. The Second Amendment was put in place to help protect the First Amendment, and to defend ourselves against some form of fascist control from a corrupt government. Do we have a fascist government? No, I don’t think we do, but we have to be mindful and watch to make sure that our constitutional rights are not taken away by the facade of “safety and security”. All the fascist leaders in history were left unchecked.

How Does It Affect Us?

If one group of people are being silenced for what they believe in or believe is right, then what stops it from spreading to other groups of people? What if you’re not allowed to be naked on private property? What if we are kicked off social media altogether because of our nakedness? Many of you either own blogs or read them daily, and some have already expressed concern about WordPress or similar hosts kicking you off or banning you without notice or reason. I don’t expect that to happen, but as we can see the potential and the power does exist among the tech giants. Either you believe what they believe, and if you don’t play by their rules, then you too will be censored.

Before I start getting a bunch of hate mail and comments saying I belong to the coup, let me say this little disclaimer. I did not write this post as a conservative, liberal, libertarian, or any other politically motivated individual. Hell, I didn’t even write it as a nudist. I wrote it as an American who loves her country and the great people who make it up, and I don’t want anyone to ever ruin or take away the freedoms that we have. It’s what sets us apart and makes us a great nation. It is our civic responsibility and our constitutional right to hold all public leaders and corporations responsible for actions which are deemed too far of an overreach of power. I encourage each of you to not blindly follow your leaders or what you’re told, but challenge them and hold them accountable for their actions, regardless of your political view and even if it’s within your own party. When any one person or party has too much power and they are not challenged, then you have corruption that will be hard to remove.

The greatest weapon we have is knowledge. The more knowledge you have, the more objectively you can think, and the more objectively you can think, the less likely you are to be controlled like sheep. Look where the control and influence has gotten us. A nation severely divided.

I’m going to go put some clothes on, get a quick run in, make a protein shake, and then do some calm yoga to cool down. I’ll let you all chew on this for a bit, and you can let me know your thoughts.

I welcome all thoughts and comments on this. I value all viewpoints and opinions regardless of your beliefs. You will never be judged or censored by me on here.

With kindest love,

Alexis