My first comic was Uncanny X-Men 142. It was the second part of a two part tale called “Days of Future Past,” I had to go searching around Corona and Forest Hills to find, but find it I did. Here is the famous cover with first page describing a dark 2013….
In the real world (Marvel designates it Earth-1218), there is a silent war in America over free speech. In a move worthy of General Omar Bradley, Elon Musk is releasing the internal documents (First to Matt Taibbi, next to Bari Weiss — subscribe to them here on Substack!) over the censoring of the New York Post article on Hunter Biden’s (son of President Biden) laptop detailed deals made overseas.
While the Left complains about the minor aspects of the laptop, most major media focus on the hardware, not the software or (this is especially galling) the cover-up. There are no Woodward and Bernstein’s among this lot of reporters.
#Twittergate
Last year, in October 2020, Twitter and many other media organizations ignored the New York Post’s finding of Hunter Biden’s laptop and everything that was on it. 60 Minutes did not acknowledge its existence during an interview with the incumbent President. The video:
This year, Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 Billion
And then Matt Taibbi wrote a summery of how the Censorship occurred (with help from Musk).
The media, acting like Sentinels gatekeeping the mutants in their camps, mocked Part One of a longer leak. This is the time to ask what the role Political Reporters have on the stage.
Modern Rules for Political Journalists
The Story is not about you…..unless you’re a master of Gonzo Journalism.
If you have no friends (not sources, friends) in both local Political Parties, immediate fail.
Just because a friendly Elected Official gives you a press release, research everything. All elected officials get scrutiny, not just one Party.
Just because everyone in Brooklyn, NY says one thing, try not to double march behind everyone. Think different.
Are you a Sentinel protecting the Establishment or are you a rebel hero looking for truth?
If you don’t understand why the person you’re interviewing went into Politics and Policy, you’re in the wrong business
Study policy and rules, you’ll understand what everyone is talking about.
Free Speech
And I quote:
"Freedom of speech means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they have, or the views they express, or the words they speak or write." ~ Hugo Black,”
In 2014, I heard the storm coming when Condi Rice was not allowed to give a commencement speech at Rutgers. Then there were multiple riots against Conservative speakers around the country. Finally, Silicon Valley would censor non-Democratic Party users and organizations. The hecklers’ veto outweighed the invited speaker and their audience.
In response to the chaos on Campus’ came President Trump; the backlash to Silicon Valley’s censorship is Elon Musk.
Congress cannot intervene on Free Speech (Thank you First Amendment!) but culturally, in the pre-2001 era, everyone talked. How do you defeat bad speech? More, convincing speech. That works in elections too.
The social contract was broken on the college campus’ starting from not allowing Condi Rice to speak at Rutgers. Everyone speaks or no one does.
There are no laws for “Hate Speech,” but it can be fought with a good argument or speech to an audience. How long has it been since any partisan or media from the Democratic Party gave detail on the effects of their policy? How many of them understand Republican Party policies? The answer is zero.
Free speech in real time and on the Information Superhighway should be like the Wild West. Debates, arguments, alliances and friendships. It seems the media and partisans would rather be Sentinels, not freedom fighters.
Destiny’s arrow
The storyline of “Days of Future Past,” is split into two time periods 1980, where there is a hearing in the US Senate about the danger of Mutants. Meanwhile, Kate Pryde from 2013 (the dystopia) sends her mind to her younger self in 1980. She sounds the warning that, if Senator Kelly is killed by the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the world she lives in becomes the future.
The X-men make it to DC, and the Brotherhood break into the Senate hearing room. Like any good comic, heroes and villains fight on the Senate grounds. Meanwhile, in 2013, the world is close to nuclear war due to the expansionist robots. The remnants of the X-men are trying to make it to the Baxter Building (the former Fantastic Four’s home in this reality) in the ruins of Manhattan.
Destiny, one of the Brotherhood can see the future and traps Senator Kelly with a crossbow. It takes Kate/Kitty Pryde to use her powers to stop her. Senator Kelly lives in 1980. In 2013, the remnant dies. And everything returns to normal. For now.
If the media chooses censorship, it chooses Destiny’s arrow. If the Left learn to bring the concept of Free Speech for all culturally, the robots don’t get to start a nuclear war. But no one is thinking of the future.
Which future do you see?