The Philly IMC guidelines specify that there are to be no “Libel, slander, defamation and abusive personal attacks” within posts.

Yet, the person commenting under the name of “Down With Racist Scum” has referred to me as “racist scum”, “an obviously hateful bigot”, an “obvious racist”, an “internet whacko”, and than asserted that I have some “very serious mental problems” and than accused me of calling someone a “filthy animal”, which I never did.

I must say that if all of those ad-hominem attacks do not constitute "Libel, slander, defamation and abusive personal attacks”, I would like somebody from the IMC to show me what does.

This, while at the same time DWRS is arguing that the Philly IMC is too tolerant by allowing me to post on this site. And using as an excerpt from an article that I never posted on this site in order to support their complaints against me.

That said, I am not arguing that “down with racist scum” be banned from this site. But what I am saying is that if a policy is put in place than it should be applied consistently across the board.

To be branded as a racist is clearly one of the worst things that can be said about someone in this day and age and while I think I probably do have some less than appealing qualities, I find it completely unfair to be repeatedly labeled a racist without any proof to back it up.

It is one thing to take issue with things I have written with regards to my comments on this thread, but the references to articles never posted on this site and the vile personal attacks had absolutely nothing to do with the issues I raised in my comment.

But, what I have come to realize and even knew before leaving the world of MOVE, is that there truly is no defense to be made of the group, in light of the facts.

Hence the personal attacks, not-so-subtle appeals for censorship, and the anonymity of someone so apparently insecure in the aforementioned personal attacks that they cannot even muster the courage to use their own name.

And while it is true that I have been critical of the IMC with regards to Mumia, and especially MOVE, it is because I value the concept of “independent media” and view entities like MOVE as authoritarian sects that contribute nothing of value to the community. I have long argued that groups such as MOVE feed upon the good intentions of people who unfortunately do not know the whole of the group’s history or understand the kind of psychological abuse that takes place within the confines of such groups.

In a very real way, I am happy that the pro-MOVE types have again risen up and showed people that they rely on personal attacks, flagrant mis-representation of people, gross exaggerations, race baiting, and calls for censorship in their efforts to try and silence critics.

Is it really me who is “abusing” the forum? Or is it those who cannot offer anything of substance other than a transparent, nearly hysterical, hateful attack, that betrays the frailty of their position. This while they violate the very rules that they so vehemently claim that I have broken.