I am a human being and my words are my weapons

When those in power try to disarm me, to silence my voice, they align themselves with the tyrants throughout history who have sought to dominate, oppress and repress The People. My words are not a privilege for which I must grovel before those who would proclaim themselves the masters of mankind, but the lifeblood that flows through my veins with every beating of my heart. My words are no more subject to restriction than my soul, for they are an extension of my very being, a projection of my self into the physical intersection of our realities. When those in power seek to limit my speech, they reveal themselves as the despots they are, for when those in power decide they will discard even the façade of accountability to those from whom they derive their power, they acknowledge that they have willfully turned their backs on The People.

I am a human being and my words are my weapons

When issues of speech and assembly enter the public arena, it is inevitable that the so-called “founding fathers” will be invoked. On the subject of the founders, I will state only this. It is worth noting that even those men who said, as George Washington did, that, “…the gradual extension of our settlements will as certainly cause the savage [Indian], as the wolf, to retire; both being beasts of prey, tho’ they differ in shape,” were able to acknowledge that the rights to free speech and assembly were inalienable human rights. Even those men who said, as James Madison did, that, “...if elections were open to all classes of people, the property of landed proprietors would be insecure…[Government] ought to be so constituted as to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority,” were able to acknowledge that they had no domain over the expression and assembly of those from whom they sought to protect their privilege, property and power. Even those men who engaged in genocide, owned slaves, oppressed women and created what is arguably the most class-conscious society in the modern world, understood that the human rights to free speech and assembly were beyond their prerogative to abrogate.

I am a human being and my words are my weapons

Even though they are not lethal, those in power would deny me access to even this modest arsenal. In an age where so-called “defense” spending tops $650 billion per year, those in power would strip me bare and tell me that were I to not spend a single cent on my own security, even the words I craft in my own defense may not be uttered for fear of retribution. In an age where the American Empire dominates the world through the latent threat of mechanized killing engines, I am told that my words pose too great a threat to be allowed to speak them. I am told that, because my words pose a threat to classist, racist, sexist and fascist ideologies, they pose a threat to the very fabric of our society…and I am told this with a straight face, as though it were no more logical than denying mass murderers access to physical weapons. I am told this even as the government rains death and destruction on the Middle East to the tune of over 1 million innocent civilians now classified as “collateral damage” since 2001. I am told this even as the government provides arms to so-called “rogue” states and allows nations like Israel and Pakistan to hold nuclear weapons despite their refusal to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. I am told this as the Oakland Police Department uses tear gas, rubber bullets, mace and bean bag-rounds against unarmed and non-violent protesters, including children. I am told this as our local government approves the use of paramilitary forces armed with assault rifles and carrying more clips of ammunition than some of our troops are authorized to carry into war-zones against unarmed and non-violent protesters. Amidst all of the physical and emotional destruction and suffering the American Empire is creating at home and worldwide, I am told that my WORDS are too dangerous for the threat that they pose to this system. Would that it were true.

My words are my weapons and I choose them because they are indestructible.

We are human beings, our words are our weapons and we will not be disarmed

^^Penetrating words, Snozzleberry.

"Indeed, from the Greatest Jihad is a word of justice in front of a tyrannical ruler"- Prophet Mohammed.

my hat goes off to you.
that's one of the best speeches i have had the pleasure of reading in a long time.
<3