CENSORSHIP!! Conservative kiosk not allowed at mall
@morethanamolehill (1586)
United States
July 22, 2009 9:40pm CST
Are you aware of how many Shopping Malls are owned by SIMON Property Group? From the D&B website hoovers.com
"Simon says: shop! And millions do. Simon Property Group is the US's #1 shopping mall owner and one of the nation's largest publicly-traded real estate companies. The self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) owns, develops, and manages about 320 properties -- primarily malls, community shopping centers, and outlet centers (under the Premium Outlet name) -- totaling some 250 million sq. ft. of leasable space in 41 states and Puerto Rico. Many of the company's properties are located in Florida, Texas, the Midwest, and the Northeast. It also has interests in more than 50 shopping properties in France, Italy, and Poland, as well as outlet centers in Japan, South Korea, and Mexico."
http://www.hoovers.com/simon-property-group/--ID__16582--/free-co-profile.xhtml
They are also big supporters of the Democrats including Obama. Maybe that is why they are kicking out a merchant who has an opposing viewpoint. Because of one letter.
Why is it that the people who claim to be in favor of equal rights for everyone are always the first to stomp on the rights of anyone who doesn't toe the party line. Do you think they would shut down Hot Topic if I wrote them a letter saying I didn't like some of they stuff they sell? No Way... What if a thousand of us did? Doubt it.
I'm sure this guy will find another outlet to sell his "politically Incorrect" wares, But in the meantime, Mel Simon is buyinng the Mall near you and HE will decide what is available for you to purchase.
http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-072109-mrn-freemarketwarrior.63b5bce2.html
3 people like this
6 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
23 Jul 09
Never heard of this person or what ever he is a HOG for one thing and no no one should be able to stomp on another persons business thats why we have alwqays called it Free interprise but then looks like we are moving more to an on free world sigh.
Just when will people open thier eyes and see that all this fluff going on in the WHite house is just that fluff !
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
23 Jul 09
My town is way to small to have a mall built in it. The closet mall to us is in another state right now. Huntington Mall, in West Virginia, I don't know of any others though but they probably are in my state somewhere that is a larger town. He malls sells the merchandise..doesn't mean we gotta buy what he has. There are other stores I am sure that will have what is needed so we don't have to settle for what is at the mall.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
23 Jul 09
All I can say is that "freedom of speech" means you can complain about the government without fear. I am guessing that the mall is a private company. At that point no matter what we think it is up to the "private business" to decide how they want to handle things. Just remember business is what runs this country good or bad. But at least we have the right according to our constitution to say what we want.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
27 Jul 09
I find that alarming but it's a private business and they can do what they like. We have no right to tell them how to run their business but what we CAN do is refuse to give them our money and let them know why we're not using their services.
It's getting worse and worse, this division based on politics. This comes from people thinking that they are right and everyone else is wrong. And this attitude is where religious wars and political persecution originate. It's a dangerous path for our country to go down but I'm afraid it will just get worse in the coming few years. 
@mel13088 (265)
• United States
28 Jul 09
This was discussed in my ethics class today. The mall decided not to renew this guy's lease. They didn't take it away. What I got from the discussion is that the mall is a private place that invites the public in. I'm sure in the lease the guy signed there was something that said that Simon Malls can at anytime take away the lease or choose to not renew for no reason. I recently got a job at a store in this mall and go there often. I'm not sure which kiosk it is that this happened to. The point was brought up in class that if there is something offensive in a store then you choose to go into that store and see that offensive material. I don't know what this guy sold at his kiosk but from what I got from my class discussion, it was over the top.
@mel13088 (265)
• United States
29 Jul 09
This has been all over the local news. The information I got from my class came from other students, not the professor. This class is not in any way trying to shape or change my beliefs or anyone else's in the class. There was a letter written to the local newspaper saying that Free Market Warrior's kiosk promoted racism, slavery and bigotry. That is why he is being kicked out. I didn't vote in the election because I didn't know enough about where each candidate stood on the issues. From what I do know, I don't care for Obama. I still don't want to see anti-Obama stuff when I go to the mall. I might not support everything he does but I stand behind him in a sense because he is our president. I don't feel like going to the mall and trying to get this guy to come to my class would be beneficial because most students in the class felt that it was okay for the mall not to renew his lease. I feel like he was given freedom of his speech within certain guidelines that the mall has. I'm not saying that he can't say what he wants. I don't have a problem with him saying what he wants. I don't think its a huge issue that his lease was not renewed because the mall is private property and the law protects private property.
@morethanamolehill (1586)
• United States
3 Aug 09
Mel13088
I respect your opinion even though I disagree with you. I did not say that he was doing anything illegal. the mall is private property. But I did imply and will say outright now that it is hypocritical. Even though it is private property, it is a public space. they would not make any money otherwise. As I said and you agreed there was a total of one letter. Saying that he was promoting, Could it be that the woman was lieing? Did you watch the video? They showed what the man was selling, but there was stuff at the HotTopic store that they could Not show. But if you or I sent this mall and the local paper a letter expressing that fact would they shut down HT? No. They would still allow young kids to shop there without a problem.
This man is being shut down for Political Speech. Or more correctly "Politically Incorrect" speech. Not "racism, slavery and bigotry".
You say,"I stand behind him (Obama) in a sense because he is our president." We should stand behind our leaders because they do what is right, And when they don't do what is right we should speak up. THAT is what they First Amendment is for and it is one of the reasons this country is still free. That's right we have freedom because we have free speech, not the other way around. (I think I said Second Amendment before. My Mistake) And that is why this is a "Huge Issue". They should be teaching this in school. They don't want young people to know about this stuff so that they will be easier to control when they get older.
@mel13088 (265)
• United States
4 Aug 09
I don't really think this is about controlling the next generation. This would be an issue for me if the government had stepped in and done something about this. I don't have a problem with it since it was the mall that did it. I don't care if the kiosk is in this mall or not. Its just not an issue for me because the government didn't get involved.
