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04/13/2004: Criminally Absurd Criminally Absurd

2004 Jefferson Muzzles Awarded
from Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression

Since 1992, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has celebrated the birth and ideals of its namesake by calling attention to those who in the past year forgot or disregarded Mr. Jefferson's admonition that freedom of speech "cannot be limited without being lost."

Announced on or near April 13 -- the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson -- the Jefferson Muzzles are awarded as a means to draw national attention to abridgments of free speech and press and, at the same time, foster an appreciation for those tenets of the First Amendment. Because the importance and value of free expression extend far beyond the First Amendment's limit on government censorship, acts of private censorship are not spared consideration for the dubious honor of receiving a Muzzle.

Unfortunately, each year the finalists for the Jefferson Muzzles have emerged from an alarmingly large group of candidates. For each recipient, a dozen could have been substituted. Further, an examination of previous Jefferson Muzzle recipients reveals that the disregard of First Amendment principles is not the byproduct of a particular political outlook but rather that threats to free expression come from all over the political spectrum.

Visit the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression website for the full list of the 2004 Jefferson Muzzle awards, whose recipients include: The Albemarle County (VA) School Board, Baseball Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey, CBS Television, The University of New Orleans Administration and others.


Tuesday the 13th of April, awiggins noted:


"Fantastic!"



"A perfect five out of five!"