Since I am a writer and author and write for some “mega sites” as well as local I’m familiar with the gargantuan task webmasters have trying to deal with hackers, worms and viruses of many kinds, and just plain old fashioned courtesy. But we read and hear from many sources good manners are not being taught children anymore, and this would seem to be the case in homes and schools throughout America. Apart from declining good manners, the subject of bullies in the schools is drawing some much needed attention, and if you as a child suffered from a playground bully you can certainly relate to the problem

Recently the threats were made on the Californian blog that if I deleted any of their comments some of these local “net bullies” would keep reposting their same comments over and over until they wore me out and I gave up. Jason attempted to ameliorate the situation pointing out quite correctly a person should have the right to maintain their own blog and delete comments as they please without such threats, but was largely ignored; one person even taking it upon himself to tell Jason he was missing the point. Well, the point was really the self righteousness of the critic. But by now most who contribute their thoughts on this local site know the bullies, and like all bullies they prefer to gang up on their victim. The really distressing thing about this is the fact some I know personally have given up writing to this blog, as well as others with which I am familiar, because of the bullies. And the loss is to be lamented.

There are the usual caveats to be expected from the bullies, those that make a pretense of their self-assumed “duty” to keep other people honest by their opinion of “honest.” Nevertheless, over time the bullies expose themselves for what they are and this local blog as well as many others with which I am familiar suffer as a consequence. There is a commonality identifying the net bullies: “Freedom of expression for me, but not for you.” Then they will go on at length defending their attacks in the usual high-flown rhetoric one expects of politicians. But as with politicians bullies remain bullies no matter how fine a face they try to put to themselves.

Beyond this local problem there are the mega sites like CNN and MSNBC that have teams of people attempting to stay ahead of the curve, not to mention the financial industry and others. I get my share of spam and hate mail, there is even one site to which I contribute that seems to invite hackers attempting to destroy it, and is beyond mere frustration for the webmaster and his crew to work so very hard attempting to protect the site.

Many of us have heard the latest that 90% of email is spam. Unless you are a professional with Verizon, AOL, EarthLink, or other similar organizations you can’t know the sheer magnitude of the problems of spam, much of it pornography, drugs, stocks, loans, scams of every description net personnel have to deal with 24/7. The worrisome thing is how long the Internet and email programs are going to be able to function with the ongoing onslaught; especially when the techs don’t speak English.

But like the subjects of criticizing the ACLU, making English our official language by law, demanding government secure our borders and take a stand against amnesty, to stop printing ballots in foreign tongues, demanding legitimate documentation with photograph in order to vote, standing up for our Christian heritage, any criticism of Jews or Israel, here come the bullies to gang up on you. And even the net bullies and hackers are to be protected in too many cases, citing their own “freedom of expression.”

Today at Townhall I read a column about the dangers inherent to “Holocaust deniers.” And the point was well made. Here is America and Israel vs. the rest of the world. If those denying the holocaust get the upper hand the danger is self-evident; but the frustration on the part of the rest of the world perceiving Israel as the kid threatening to sic his big brother on you, is this a problem of America and Israel’s making? Or is it a problem where the bullies of propaganda are gaining the upper hand? But we see throughout the world the anger being fomented against America and Israel and the manifold dangers growing.

Freedom of expression is a fine thing. But when any subject becomes a taboo of those wielding and abusing power, like those close to Bush never daring voice criticism of his policies, this creates an environment where the bullies thrive. We know nations like China, North Korea, and Iran are doing all they can to stifle dissent, global corporations cooperating with these bullies. But if we look about America today, it is self-evident you don’t dare sing Christmas carols or say “Merry Christmas” in our schools. “Happy Holidays” has become a politically correct Grinch and a little here, and a little there, and before you know it political correctness whether that of China, North Korea, Iran or America, the bullies have won.

But the bullies of China and North Korea, of Iran all have the advantage of a national identity. America has lost that advantage. And America has lost that advantage because of the politically correct bullies of America ganging up and shouting down dissent, attacking everything of America’s heritage, culture, and language, attacking any that would secure our own borders with the usual shouts of “racist.” But how can America sustain itself, let alone Israel, without a national identity, without national sovereignty? It can’t. And the bullies will have won; but at what cost; and what exactly is it that they will have won?