From an interview of Larry Flint
Is politics something you've always been interested in?
"Yes. Since I was a child I've always questioned everything in my life, whether it be authority, politics, religion or whatever. I sort of inadvertently got involved in this First Amendment battle, and it's been going on now for over 20 years. I think I had to stand in a courtroom and listen to a judge sentence me to 25 years in prison before I realized that freedom of expression was something that could no longer be taken for granted. And that was back in 1977, and since then I've been totally uncompromising on First Amendment issues.
I'm so passionate about the First Amendment because I see it as the cornerstone of our democracy. The First Amendment gets its vitality and meaning from the unrestricted right of free choice. Majority rule will only work if you're considering individual rights. You can't have five wolves and one sheep vote on what they want to have for supper, because the sheep will lose every time. I've always seen my role as protecting that sheep, those individuals."
Like you, a lot of people connected to the sex industry have ended up getting into political battles, often over the First Amendment. Why do you think this is?
"I'd be less than truthful if I didn't say that part of it is that they're protecting their livelihood. But I think many of them very strongly believe in what they're doing. You see, so many people think that their civil rights and their civil liberties are part of their birthright. They take them for granted. But when somebody that's in the business I'm in is faced with prosecution, harassment by the police, then all of a sudden he becomes aware that what we take for granted is not really there. And that many of the freedoms we've gained can be lost as easily as they were gained.
The only question to ask yourself is, how much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve this success?"
More on free speech and how it relates to where you are soon....
Is politics something you've always been interested in?
"Yes. Since I was a child I've always questioned everything in my life, whether it be authority, politics, religion or whatever. I sort of inadvertently got involved in this First Amendment battle, and it's been going on now for over 20 years. I think I had to stand in a courtroom and listen to a judge sentence me to 25 years in prison before I realized that freedom of expression was something that could no longer be taken for granted. And that was back in 1977, and since then I've been totally uncompromising on First Amendment issues.
I'm so passionate about the First Amendment because I see it as the cornerstone of our democracy. The First Amendment gets its vitality and meaning from the unrestricted right of free choice. Majority rule will only work if you're considering individual rights. You can't have five wolves and one sheep vote on what they want to have for supper, because the sheep will lose every time. I've always seen my role as protecting that sheep, those individuals."
Like you, a lot of people connected to the sex industry have ended up getting into political battles, often over the First Amendment. Why do you think this is?
"I'd be less than truthful if I didn't say that part of it is that they're protecting their livelihood. But I think many of them very strongly believe in what they're doing. You see, so many people think that their civil rights and their civil liberties are part of their birthright. They take them for granted. But when somebody that's in the business I'm in is faced with prosecution, harassment by the police, then all of a sudden he becomes aware that what we take for granted is not really there. And that many of the freedoms we've gained can be lost as easily as they were gained.
The only question to ask yourself is, how much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve this success?"
More on free speech and how it relates to where you are soon....
(Gotta love the slimey, free-speechifying ol' crip. Alas, I wish I could...)
Thanks for the kind comments, my friend. I have indeed been doing my share of solitary loafing and reading. (Just finished up a recent copy of Rolling Stone. Not terribly challenging...or unpronouncable.) No working, not much socializing. Returning to my hermiting, slothful ways, I fear. Good thing I live with such a loving, tolerant man. (And one that happens to be employed, thank gawd!) Hit with twinges of homesickness, off and on. This is definitely going to be an adjustment.
And how have YOU been, guy? Boys doing well?
Take care!
PS: Would you happen to know what happened to Stormy?? (Girls seem to be disappearing left and right around here!)