An Anti-War Activist Challenges the Pigeon's Free Speech

[*whew* check out the thread Mr. Crook posted on his pitiful little forum:  http://forums.michaelcrook.com/showthread.php?t=36.  What he seems to fail to understand is was ACTIVELY trying to provide a means for my comrades in arms to practice not just freedom of speech, but freedom of response, and I figured he'd welcome the exchange of opinion based on his other blathering posts.  Indeed, he can't even come out and say my name!  Unless, of course, there's another blogger out there giving this waste of skin a hard time; in which case, I owe said blogger a beer].

Before continuing you must read the following posts, to include the associated video:

Human gene pool contaminant on Fox's Hannity and Colmes

Forsake the Troops, Part II 

Now read what the greasy-haired wonder sent me and Typepad over a year after the above posts (misspellings and all):

In this entry, dated June 2, 2005, the author publishes my contact information, and did not at any time have my written consent. This is contrary to Section 7, paragraph A of your Terms of Service.  Also in violation of the same provision, the author encourages an illegal act, a federal offense, actually, by encouraging and condoning a DDOS attack. This is also a violation of paragraph "l" of your Terms of Service.  The author also encourages harassment of me, which is a blatant violation of paragraph "k" of your Termf os Service.  While the right to freedom of speech is appreciated, it is not absolute, and in regards to the above violations, it is requested that the offending material be immediately removed.

Sincerely,

http://www.michaelcrook.com

(Now if some tool tells me posting a public domain, freely searched URL is illegal, than we might as well shut down the internet altogether and declare freedom of speech truly dead and in the hands of the ass-covering politically correct).

Allow me to respond:

In Mr. Crook's website and during the video he advocates violence against US troops in combat with enemies of the United States, which last I checked, is NOT supported by freedom of speech.  To wit (from the Electronic Privacy Information Center): 

Lawful Regulation on Speech

Fighting Words. Speech likely to provoke an average listener to retaliation, and thereby cause a breach of peace, falls outside the protection of the First Amendment because the words have no important role in the marketplace of ideas the freedom of speech is designed to promote.

Incitement ("clear and present danger"). The government can regulate speech that is intended and likely to incite "imminent lawless action," or where the speech presents a "clear and present danger" to the security of the nation.

In addition, Mr. Crook's home address is public record, widely available from numerous sources both online and in print; furthermore what I'm encouraging is my reader's right to counter protest since Mr. Crook likes to hide behind facades and an distressingly unkempt appearance.  But in a spirit of goodwill, I'll remove his home address and replace it with his business address (noted above), which he sent to me freely in the apparent desire for further correspondence; and since his email is now my personal property and all my posts are protected by the Creative Commons License, I'm more than happy to share his new address with my readers.

*Bats eyelids*  DDOS attack?  What could POSSIBLY make you believe I'd encourage such highly illicit behavior?  I'm just encouraging my readers to visit his site and counter his pigeonshit--It's not my fault I have hundreds of readers who might stop by to say hello and offer Mr. Crook a much-needed haircut and testosterone injections.  Besides, the site runs with the speed of pond water even without additional readers.

Now then, anyone else want a piece of this?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADDED 20 August, 1335 (1:35 PM for you non-military types)

Jesus [PIGEONED] Christ...

This is the second complaint we've had to file on this client.  We hope that you examine your relationship with said client.  As a member of  the military, his actions reflect upon the military as a whole. That said, the following entry is in question:

Diary of the Mad Pigeon  (Go ahead, click it!)

Under the entries for today, Sunday, August 20, 2006, the user in question, we feel, has violated Section 7, Paragraph "k", in that the entires may constitute harassment per se.

We also feel his entries are desgined to incite harassment, and mail crimes, by way of him encouarging users to "fill up that UPS box." Such an action would involve the U.S. postal service and harassment through the mail system can potentially be a felony. It is our hope that Six Apart is not condoning the comission of a felony or any other crime.  We hope that you look into this matter for us.

(THE MAD PIGEON ADDS: So sending mail and practicing my right to free speech is suddenly illegal?  Do you have proof I asked my readers to send death threats or conduct violent acts?  Yet you'll insult me personally across state lines through PayPal?  Thanks for the spare change, though.)

I may be reached via e-mail in regards to this matter at my publically available website, which is not copyrighted.  Per my terms of service clearly annotated on my site you are free and weclome to contact me here.

I have a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted material described above on the allegedly infringing web pages is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. I certify that I am authorized to act upon the behalf of the subject named herein. 

(THE MAD PIGEON ADDS:  Copyrighted material?  What copyrighted material? I posted your web URL, just like I've posted URLs all over the rest of my site.  But if you really want to get technical we can discuss fair use, and since I'm not sharing your URL to explicitly profit for my own benefit I don't see what grounds you have to stand on).

I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

(THE MAD PIGEON ADDS:  Back at ya--thanks to trying to infringe on my own rights.  Did I mention all my work is also copyrighted?)

Sincerely,

Kayla Maastersen-Crook

What do you think I'm going to do, roll over and play dead?  Obviously you've never read any of my other posts (assuming you can read) and know nothing about me.  In short, I'm willing to die for free speech--which incurs the freedom of response; and to allow your venom-filled hate to go unanswered would be pure travesty.  If you're willing to spread such hate against the military, than you need to tie on some Kahunas and handle retorts rather than hiding behind threats, litigation, and Mike's androgynous physique.  It's like watching a little kid finally punch the school bully in the eye, and all the bully can do is snivel to momma.   

(Posted at The Mudville Gazette, Outside the Beltway; pending on Blogcritics.org)

Comments

[MOGS]

A few years ago, several sources posted an email sent by a "professor" (it was some school in NJ, go figure) to a student who was trying to organize a seminar of some sort - this professor advocated that enlisted military members "rise up and kill their officers" (paraphrase) amongst other bouts of (standard) radical leftist ivory tower drivel.

As far as I know, this prof was censured, if not booted.

The moral of the story - I wrote the university, as did many others (and got a form email back, a lower form of life even than the form letter) about free speech etc, but what seemed to be missing was the realization that this creep had basically made an overt physical threat against the lives of EVERY US military officer, myself included, and I took it as a personal threat.

"Free speech" sometimes gets treated as some sort of idealistic playground which exists in a vacuum devoid of consequence and personal responsibility, or it only exists when it's convenient for some, but not all. This guy put his words out there, got completely pwned on Hannity and Colmes, bought out of his website, and was deservingly ridiculed across the net. He took it upon himself to open his mouth, and he needs to face the consequences of it, just like Pidge and I do EVERY DAY.

If this joker wants to say that the threat of lots of mail to UPS (sheesh poor him) is somehow worse than inciting violence against US military personnel, AIDING AND GIVING COMFORT TO THE ENEMY IN TIMES OF WAR (which last time I checked, still meets the definition of treason), I think he's got another thing comin'

Pidge, give me a call if you need anything.

[canuckistani]

I don't understand why some are so hateful toward the military, especially those soldiers currently serving in dangerous war zones. It is just so rude and downright spoiled brat ungrateful. I don't often agree with Fox on anything, but I'm glad that announcer took Crook to task for his terrible remarks. Crook came across looking like a bumbling idiot.

I find it ironic he launched a tirade against the very organization he wanted to join at one time. I suspect Crook is angry the military kicked him out of basic training when his heart murmur was discovered. Anyway, I guess some kids can't accept being told "No" when they want something.

This whole copyright thing he's launched on this site is ridiculous. If he is going to dish it out, he has to be mature enough to take it. He should just pack it in and call it a day as it just makes him look worse.

[Kate]

Holy batshit, Robin. I don't believe I'm coherent enough to tackle this one yet.

I'm operating on 6 hours of sleep in the last 52 hours, and just got home after a harrowing 8 hour drive back from Lansing, Michigan (that's 8 hours back ... note that it only took us 4 freaking hours to get there Sunday morning). ::ahem:: Anyhow.

If my skimming of the second email is correct, the next article is about how he's going to get away with it? How is this possible?

[The Mad Pigeon]

Just visited your site, Kate... I'm defenitely going to be back to find out what made your trip (notably the return trip) to Michigan so... "memorable!"

[canuckistani]

I clicked on the link you provided and left my comments on Crook's thread, but I see he's got one of those comment approval things so I doubt what I wrote will get published. To me the comment approval instrument on a blog is a form of censorship that hinders the free exchange of opinion. I wasn't rude but I doubt he'll like what I wrote. At least you've got the guts to put your opinion out there and welcome those of others without censoring their comments.

[Jose]

I would question the legitimacy of the letter from "Kayla". In fact, it would not be the first time Mr. Crook has sent a bogus email complete with a bogus address. There are plenty of local folks, incuding the Court he is involved with trying to get his Kid back (Gee, now why on earth would anyone want to take his kid away, an unfit father and mother perhaps?)should have info on him via the freedom of information act.

In the past he has posed as a lawyer to try and get his real contact info off the internet,(his soc.sec. number is even out there if you want to ask the Goons hacking group that he got totally crushed by.) he even had his ugly moronic wife call and pose as a lawyer once, only to be made to cry after the guy got done with her.

He will be happy to come in and write what he pleases in your forum/blog/message board and insist on full freedom of speech, but you can't point out that he has used pictures of classmates, local girls, and others along with posting their contact information all over his sites... surely that would be terrible, so of course, he cuts those things out and tries to block IP's... Brilliant move on his part, it isn't working too well.

Don't roll over and play dead on this one, you will find with very little effort you can find huge holes in his argument, and in the laws he is attempting to use, and if your hosting company would only stnd up to him, he would fold like the two bit piece of trash he is.

[Deborah Snuffaluff]

How can I be sure that this isn't a Michael Crook website now? Everything seems to be linked to him in one way or another. If this is one of his websites, I do not wish to waste my time. If you are for real, I'll help cough up the matted hair ball and spit him out as well.

[The Mad Pigeon]

I assure you, I'm the real deal--a bona fide, military award winning pigeon!

Check out my about page; hopefully that'll assuage any doubts:

http://www.themadpigeon.com/about.html

Let alone Michael Crook's too much of a dipstick to use big words such as "assuage."