Captain Jean-Luc Picard Speaks!

From the future, he comments on current affairs...from Best of the Web:

High school senior Allen Lee sat down with his creative writing class on Monday and penned an essay that so disturbed his teacher, school administrators and police that he was charged with disorderly conduct. . . .Lee, an 18-year-old straight-A student at Cary-Grove High School, was arrested Tuesday near his home and charged with disorderly conduct for an essay police described as violently disturbing but not directed toward any specific person or location.

James Taranto comments:

....the real point is this: What in the hell are police doing arresting someone for a piece of writing merely because someone was "disturbed" by it? This is the most obvious violation of the right to free speech we've heard of in a long time.

Jean-Luc Picard says:

"With the first link the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably... "

Brilliant! Jean-Luc, what do you say to Harry Reid, who provides propoganda to our enemies by declaring the war in Iraq is "lost", and tries to blame his treasonous statements on our commander in the field? Listen, Captain Picard, listen:

BASH: The phrase “the war is lost” really touched a nerve. Do you stand by that — that — that comment?
REID: General Petraeus has said that only 20 percent of the war can be won militarily...
BASH: But, sir, General Petraeus has not said the war is lost. I just want to ask you again…
REID: General — General Petraeus has said the war cannot be won militarily. He said that.< ...>
BASH: Is there something to that, an 18- and 19-year-old person in the service in Iraq who is serving, risking their lives, in some cases losing their life, hearing somebody like you back in Washington saying that they’re fighting for a lost cause?
REID: General Petraeus has told them that.

BASH: He also said that General Petraeus is going to come to the Hill and make it clear to you that there is progress going on in Iraq, that the so-called surge is working. Will you believe him when he says that?
REID: No, I don’t believe him, because it’s not happening.

The highest Congressional official in the land, in a time of war, declaring our nation defeated and calling a four-star general a liar! Yes, I know, a Federation officer would never dare speak so, but...what say you about such a man, Captain Picard? What say you?

"Villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged, waiting for the right climate in which to flourish, spreading fear in the name of righteousness."

Ah, more stoic insightfulness from our beloved Captain!

And the calls for Reid to resign are mounting...thoughts, Jean-Luc?

"Make it so"

Oh Captain, my captain, if only it were that easy....