I have been reading some primary source material on the origins of censorship in American history, and came across this interesting information. ********************************* WARNING: THOSE WHO MAY BE OFFENDED BY REMARKS WHICH COULD BE CONSTRUED AS EXCESSIVLY CRITICAL OF EZRA POUND ARE ADVISED TO READ NO FURTHER. THIS POST CONTAINS: --CRITICISM OF JOHN ADAMS --IMPLIED CRITICISM OF EZRA POUND --DENUNCIATIONS OF CENSORSHIP --ADVOCACY OF PRESS FREEDOM --(AND OTHER MATERIAL WHICH MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE TO PEOPLE WHO WHO FEEL COMPELLED TO DEFEND EZRA POUND) ****************************************** At the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, in early July of 1798, students burned John Adams in effigy. The main pro-Adams newspaper in Philadelphia (then the capital of the US) commented on the event as follows: "The burning of the President's effigy a Willimsburg was not the work of the mob, nor of the inhabitants of the place in general, but of the learned, polite, and patriotic STUDENTS OF WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE. A precious seminary! I wonder who is at the head of it! Some bitter, factious, envious wretch ...; if not some philosopher of the infamous tribe of the ILLMINATI. One of the great objects of these plotting villains was to thurst their members into all places of education in order to be enabled to corrupt the youth. They have succeeded at William and Mary clear enough. I would sooner put a child of mine under the tuition of a commmon thief than send him amongst this rascally seditious crew---" [Is this in some way not similar to many statements today, made about "politically correct" educators, or "politically correct" institutions?] The next day, at the behest of John Adams, and Federalist Senator Theodore Sedwick, the United States Senate passed a sedition bill containing this provision: "That if any person shall by writing, printing, publishing, or speaking ... create a belief that the said Legislature in enacting any law was induced therto by motives hostile to the Constitution, the person so offending shall be punished by a fine, not exceeding two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeeding two years." Later, a similar bill was passed, making it a crime to criticize the President in the same manner. So why, we may wonder was Pound so enthusiastic about John Adams? Why, we might ask, are so many modern American historians keen to keep John Adams reputation so unsullied, inspite of his utter betrayal of the original principles of the American Republic? Today, as hundreds remain in jail in Philadelphia, simply for protesting against the plutocratic practices of the Republican party, we might well consider the degree to which freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are under serious threat. Which side would Pound be on? (Did he ever side with ANY demonstrators who protested the rule of Mussolini? Did he ever side with any trade union organization which protested labor conditions in the US or in Italy, during the era of fascism? ***************************** ADDITIONAL CAUTIONARY REMARK: THE ABOVE COMMENTS ARE NOT MEANT TO RESTRICT ANYONE ELSES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, NOR SHOULD THEY BE INTERPRETED AS AN ATTEMPT TO EXERCISE DICTATORIAL CONTROL OVER THE EZRA POUND DISCUSSION LIST. IF YOU HAVE READ THIS FAR, YOU SHOULD NOT FEEL INHIBITED IN ANY WAY FROM EXPRESSING YOUR VIEWPOINT. NOR SHOULD YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO REPLY. YOU ARE PERFECTLY FREE TO DO AS YOU WISH. ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM. Long Live Liberty! Wei ***************************** ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com