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Censorship is in Eye of the Beholder

On on hand…

S. Res 405 (Feb 2, 2010)

[T]he Senate–

(1) reaffirms the centrality of freedom of expression and press freedom as cornerstones of United States foreign policy and United States efforts to promote individual rights;

(2) expresses serious concern over ongoing official efforts in many countries to restrict speech and expression, including attempts to censor, restrict, and monitor access to the Internet;

(7) urges companies to engage in responsible business practices in the face of efforts by foreign governments to restrict the free flow of information by refusing to aid in the curtailment of free expression[.]

On the other hand…

H. Res. 224 (Mar. 7, 2007):

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that corporate owners of websites that share user-posted videos should take action to remove jihadi propaganda.

Categories
Law

Tiger Woods Congressional Gold Medal

I think all the findings remain true; however, Congressman Baca might want to strike #6 about breaking barriers (fire hydrant?) with grace and dignity.


HR 1244 IH


111th CONGRESS


1st Session


H. R. 1244

To provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of the Congress to Tiger Woods, in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship, and in breaking barriers with grace and dignity by showing that golf is a sport for all people.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 2, 2009

Mr. BACA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services



A BILL

To provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of the Congress to Tiger Woods, in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship, and in breaking barriers with grace and dignity by showing that golf is a sport for all people.

  • Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Although Tiger Woods is only 33 years old and is going on his 13th full year as a professional golfer, he has won 87 tournaments (65 of which were on the Professional Golf Association (PGA) tour), including the 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2005 Masters Tournaments, the 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2007 PGA Championships, the 2000, 2002, and 2008 U.S. Open championships, and the 2000, 2005, and 2006 British Open Championships.

(2) Tiger Woods is the 5th player in history to win all 4 major championships (Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and British Open), joining the ranks of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus.

(3) With his second Masters victory in 2001, Tiger Woods became the first player ever to hold all 4 major championships at the same time.

(4) Tiger Woods is the career victories leader among active players on the PGA tour, and is the career money list leader.

(5) Tiger Woods can be compared with Jack Nicklaus as being one of the greatest golfers of all time.

(6) Tiger Woods has broken barriers with grace and dignity by showing that golf is a sport for all people, regardless of race, color, or creed.

(7) Tiger Woods has inspired countless people of all ages, impressing upon them that their hopes, dreams, and prayers may be achieved through hard work, persistence, education, and good sportsmanship.

(8) Tiger Woods established the Tiger Woods Foundation in 1996, which financially supports communities and organizations that nurture family values and adults’ involvement in children’s lives.

(9) The Tiger Woods Foundation hosts clinics, which give thousands of youngsters golf lessons and draw attention and support to the organizations that allow inner-city children access to golf.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

(a) Presentation Authorized- The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to Tiger Woods in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship, and in breaking barriers with grace and dignity by showing that golf is a sport for all people.

(b) Design and Striking- For the purpose of the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (in this Act referred to as the `Secretary’) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may strike duplicate medals in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 and sell such duplicate medals at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the duplicate medals (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses) and the cost of the gold medal.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

The medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF CHARGES AGAINST FUND; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

(a) Authorization- There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medals authorized by this Act.

(b) Proceeds of Sale- Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

Categories
politics

Racist Democrats in Congress

SFGate.com: Lawmakers Blast Yahoo Executives for Helping China Jail Dissident. While technologically and financially you are giants, morally you are pygmies,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, said at the end of the three-hour hearing.

According to Wikipedia, “[m]embers of so-called Pygmy groups often consider the term derogatory, instead preferring to be called by the name of their ethnic groups.” I guess bigotry isn’t the exclusive province of white, Southern Republicans. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. Tom Lantos managed to insult both Africans and the Little People in one quip? How about that? Is this Tom Lantos’ Macaca moment? Where is Rev. Al Sharpton?