Fred Phelps' "God Hates Fags" Message: Is It Free Speech?

John W. Whitehead March 15th, 2010

"You can't preach the Bible without preaching the hatred of God."–Pastor Fred Phelps

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear Snyder v. Phelps, a case dealing with anti-gay protests at the funerals of American soldiers, is stirring up debate over whether the privacy rights of grieving families trumps the free speech rights of demonstrators.

The case arose after members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church picketed the Maryland funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Sn … (Read More)

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Obama and the Global Police: More Friendly Fascism?

John W. Whitehead January 14th, 2010

"The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse."– James Madison

Over the course of his first year in office, Barack Obama has shown himself to be a skillful and savvy politician, saying the things Americans want to hear while stealthily and inexorably moving forward the government's agenda of centralized power. For example, in one breath, Obama pays lip service to the need for greater transparency in governme … (Read More)

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Homelessness & Revolution - Daniels, Ashmen & Whitehead on SBE

Erik Guzman November 27th, 2009

According to the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, "As many as 30 million people in the United States go hungry every day, and estimates of homelessness range from 750,000 to 1 million individuals on any given night."

During the holidays, many of us who have something to give are thinking of those who don't.

(If you're on the front page of the site click "Read More" to see player options.)

Join us on this edition of SBE as we talk with two people who know h … (Read More)

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Is Tweeting Now a Felony Under Federal Law?

John W. Whitehead November 18th, 2009

Say you want a revolution.

We better get on right away.

Well you get on your feet

And out on the street.

–John Lennon, "Power to the People"

The ominous rise of the surveillance state continues unabated. With each passing day, hope fades that the Obama administration will diverge from George W. Bush's erection of a police state.

The government's treatment of Elliot Madison is a case in point. Madison, a 41-year-old self-styled anarchist and social worke … (Read More)

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Loving Big Brother: The Future Is Now

John W. Whitehead October 5th, 2009

"He loved Big Brother."–George Orwell, 1984

1984 portrays a global society of total control in which people are not supposed to have thoughts that in any way disagree with the corporate state. There is no personal freedom. Snitches and surveillance cameras are everywhere. And people are subject to the Thought Police, who deal with anyone guilty of such thought crimes. The government, or "Party," is headed by Big Brother, who appears on posters everywhere with the words: … (Read More)

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Barack, What Happened to All the Change You Promised?

John W. Whitehead July 20th, 2009

The unemployment rate in the U.S. now stands at 9.5% and soon will top 10%. And the number of U.S. households on the verge of losing their homes soared by nearly 15% in the first half of this year. This has caused some economists to question whether or not the country is headed toward another economic meltdown–a point of no return. However, watching the news coverage of Barack Obama’s adventures while in office, you might be forgiven for thinking there were no problems left to solve in t … (Read More)

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