Americans from history some of our friends would execute for treason

Here are the treasonous, eliminationist thoughts of Malcolm X that would convince some of our faux liberal friends that he hates America, wished to kill people, was a Second Amendment nut, and should be arrested, tried, and (well, you know) for treason:

"Concerning nonviolence: It is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself, when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks. It is legal and lawful to own a shotgun or a rifle. We believe in obeying the law."

"If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country."

"I don't favor violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our people by peaceful means, well and good. Everybody would like to reach his objectives peacefully. But I'm also a realist. The only people in this country who are asked to be nonviolent are black people."

"Last but not least, I must say this concerning the great controversy over rifles and shotguns. The only thing I've ever said is that in areas where the government has proven itself either unwilling or unable to defend the lives and the property of Negroes, it's time for Negroes to defend themselves. Article number two of the Constitutional amendments provides you and me the right to own a rifle or a shotgun. It is constitutionally legal to own a shotgun or a rifle. This doesn't mean you're going to get a rifle and form battalions and go out looking for white folks, although you'd be within your rights - I mean, you'd be justified; but that would be illegal and we don't do anything illegal. If the white man doesn't want the black man buying rifles and shotguns, then let the government do its job. That's all."

Political rhetoric is a tool.

Often it is a distasteful tool, sometimes appealing to fear or the baser instincts. At times in our history hyperbole, distortion, and lies have corrupted the political discourse, but--amazingly--with the strength of the First Amendment to protect political speech that does not transgress into direct criminality (such as I have clearly noted here), we have recovered without recourse to becoming a police state that suppresses dissent in the name of patriotism.

Speech like this:

If you agree with that statement, you are a traitor to the United States of America, and you deserve to be arrested, tried, and put to death in as quick a manner as possible.

... is ultimately more dangerous to the body politic than the ideas it seeks to demonize, no matter how loathesome they are.

If that position makes me a rightwing nut to the people who traffic in the demonization of their political opponents on a daily basis, so be it.

Please keep mentioning me in your screeds. I'll be glad to be noted as a firm believer in the Bill of Rights any day.