The Tragedy of "Free Speech" Miscreant Amos Yee

Amos Yee, Singaporean Blogger turned Pedophile Advocate
Turned convicted criminal

For the last two years, I have been following the perverse tragedy of Amos Yee.

A refugee from Singapore, Yee ran afoul of his country's strict laws regarding freedom of expression. In Singapore, one can face stiff fines or even jail time for insulting or wounding religious or ethnic sensibilities,

In 2015, Yee did exactly that, even though he was still a minor. He produced a number of videos denouncing Singapore's Founding Father Lee Kwan Yew. His rhetoric included a great deal of vile cursing and vulgar statements, as well. He also called Jesus Christ a fraud, and he even shared a picture of Lee Kwan Yew in bed with Margaret Thatcher, mocking the Founder's pro-free market economic policies.

He ended up spending over 50 days in jail for his hateful remarks. At the same time, he turned into a cause celebre among the liberal elites in Singapore, and even some free-speech activists in the United States.

Fearing that he would be jailed again if he shared his views further, he fled Singapore and sought refuge in the United States in 2018. President Trump attempted to block his asylum application, but a federal judge in Chicago granted his request, and so Yee was allowed to stay.

For the next year, he toured the "conservative" free speech circuit, shocking audiences with his radical, even licentious, criminal views on speech. He became an actual advocate for pedophilia! Disgusting, but true. He even shared that people should be allowed to threaten immediate and immiment violent threats. The United States has a very liberal policy when it comes to freedom of speech, no doubt. Mr. Yee would not have faced prison time for writing vile things about different religions or the founders of any country.

Here is his interview with Dave Rubin. Click here.

Here is his interview with Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson. Click here.

(Check out the title for Rev. Jesse's video, too: Far-Left Anarcho-Communist Demands Open Borders, More Illegals, & Pedophiles Roaming Free (Full Ep.))

However, even the United States, whether in state or federal statute, does not permit individuals to make immediate, provocate, dire violent threats against others. Such threats are indeed taken very seriously.

The greatest alarm comes from his active, flippant, extremely disturbing endorsement of pedophilia. He actually argued that child can consent to sexual relationships with adults, and that such relationships should be legal. So-called conservative influencers and commentators, like the ones above, gave him free access to spew his views. Frankly, freedom of speech is essential for hashing out views and for allowing people to critique and challenge ideas and ideologies that they favor or disapprove.

Yet the situation with Amos Yee was different. By the time he arrived in the United States, he had become an adult. But before then, as a minor, he had been proppped up in all kinds of ways, enabled to speak his mind, to speak evil of dignities, to defy mores and traditions. Many activists on the cultural and political left celebrated this twerp.

But I sensed what a number of people also shared with me on an individual basis: this Amos Yee child was a very troubled young man, to say the least. He was clearly very bitter, angry. He wanted to lash out at all authority. In his interview with Dave Rubin, he was still a minor living in Singapore. His mother was busy doing housework behind the scenes. Where was his father? Did either of his parents have enough sense to discipline their child and teach him manners, to respect the laws in his country--or at the very least, prepare him for the legal fallout for expressing his views?

Why were national speakers and commentators giving this disturbed, disrespectful kid a platform? How was any of this going to help the cause of spreading freedom of speech or ensuring that the Singapore government would grant full recognition and protection for freedom of speech? How would this help the cause of spreading and assuring freedom of speech in the United States or the rest of the Western world?

When one considers all of the above questions and factors, it's pretty clear that these social media influencers just wanted to cash in on the latest "free speech" craze, nothing more. It is really troubling, since this young man really need help, not enabling.

And the enabling turned into a very disgusting, criminal outcome.

Amos Yee was arrested last year for soliciting sex with a minor. He faced multiple counts, a high bail amount, and a very long prison sentence should he found guilty in a court of law.

Here's a complete run-down of the charges that he faced:

Yee was charged with child pornography and grooming after he allegedly exchanged nude photos and “thousands” of messages with a 14-year-old girl while living in Chicago back in 2019.

They met in February that year over the Riot chat app.

Not only did he send her nude photos, Yee also asked for nude photos of the girl over Whatsapp, and got them. He also persuaded the victim to appear on video and other mediums, which is why he was handed a charge of child pornography.

Child pornography, folks. This is not a joke. This is not funny. And he was sending out warning signs for at least two years during his stay in the United States. He actively and repeatedly endorsed sex with children. Does anyone find it surprising that he wanted to engage in such unseemly behaviors himself?

How could free speech advocates sit idly by and let him pontificate like he was some kind of free speech hero? He was a free speech miscreant, more or less, and had serious emotional, mental, and character issues, to say the least. He needed some real discipline, not people who allow him to dish on just about anything.

Earlier this year, he ultimately plead guilty to two charges of child pornography and grooming. He will serve six years in a federal penitentiary, then most likely be deported back to Singapore, where he will most likely face more jail time for reneging on his citizen-based duty to serve in Singapore's national service for two years full-time.

This is really tragic. When I learned about the final plea deal, I was sickened and outraged. All the adults in Singapore and the United States who were dancing around this guy, celebrating him and holding him up as a role model for full freedom of speech, were in reality hurting him and leading to harm against other people, too. Indeed, it's necessary and proper for citizens in their respective countries to fight for freedom of speech. I do believe that countries should take every step they can to ensure freedom of expression.

However, Amos Yee was the wrong vehicle for doing so. He was a troubled youth who needed help, and adults--who are supposed to be adults and put the needs of children first ahead of their own desires--used him to get views, likes, and to broaden their own appeal as "woke" activists for fighting repressive authority or pushing the limits of permissible expressions of speech.

I must say, I don't think I have ever felt so outraged, so angry about a situation as this one. There is so much wrong with what happened her: bad parents, selfish commentators, a corrupted media culture invested in shock and awe rather than truth and true advocacy--and in the midst of it, a troubled kid who became a troubling young adult who troubled other kids.

All of this was preventable. Shame on every adult who did not step up and push back on Amos Yee's perverted insolence. They could have saved his life, and at the very least ensured he had a life worth living. It's disgusting that adults, both in Amos Yee's home country and the United States, enabled and celebrated this creep for his "free speech" antics. All the while, he was an active advocate for pedophilia and other sexual perversions, along with other communistic ideologies. Where are all the anti-authoritarian free speech advocates now? They enabled this troubled young--now a troubling adult. This whole affair really outrages me. It's such a tragedy that a kid with such intellect could turn into a troubled adult with a criminal record, and no one stepped up to stop him when they had the chance.

Letter to the Editor: Learn How to Keep Yourself Calm

Dear Arthur, 

 I am contacting you because I recently seen a video of you on the Jesse Lee Peterson show.  I enjoy listening to Mr. Peterson and may not always agree with his point of view I see him, myself and you standing on the same side of America. If I'm correct you've been kicked off of YouTube and please know I seen a few or maybe a couple of hand full of your videos and support your cause. I feel awful for what's going on in California and hope that one day we see it becomes a great state that it was before.

Before I give you the reason I am writing you. Let me tell you about myself. My name is Ismael I----, I am 38 years old born in the great state of Texas but I live in Virginia now.  I'm a father and proud supporter of President Trump. And if my name didn't give it away I'm obvious a Latino.  But really hate saying that because in all reality I am an American and proud of it.  

With all that being said this is why I am contacting you,  while watching the town hall that you participated in and again  I support your cause I found you to be very annoying.  Please know I don't mean no disrespect to you.  Please believe me. I am only going by what I saw and what I seen in your past YouTube videos.  I don't know you for the next person walking next to me just as you don't know me.  But I have seen how you been mocked been disrespected and sometimes been mistreated.  I have also seen you mock them, to try to give them a taste of their own medicine, I get it you're trying to make a point.  And maybe this is how you act everyday, maybe this is who you are. If I recall you did say and I quote "this is calm".  I guess what I'm trying to tell you is I may not understand your frustrations but I do get your passion, your love and what you are fighting for, what we are fighting for.  

But I encourage you to watch that video and watch yourself and learn how to maybe keep yourself calm and compose. Because what I saw from you was very annoying and if it wasn't for Jessie, and if it wasn't to hear what the audience had to say I would have stopped watching because of you. I wanted to pass that video so folks could watch and see what you are fighting for, but I didn't and won't because I'm afraid they may find you annoying as well and turn it off.  I'm sorry to be so frank, but I hope you understand and know that I am just trying to help.  I wish you well and best of luck with your cause and know that you have a friend in Virginia who supports and prays that we get this country back on the right track.  Thank you for your time sir. 

Sincerely,

Ismael

Here was my response:

Ismael:

I could not care less whether people find me annoying or not.

You may also see that I was interrupted more often and shared less than the others.

Share the video all the way -- or don't. It's fine by me.

One of my guiding principles going forward in this culture war fight is this:

Being Nice Doesn't Work.

Some people do not like my methods, but I take Thomas Sowell's warning to heart:

"If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism."

Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/thomas_sowell_381909"

Stand4Truth: Pastor Jesse Lee Peterson

I wish that more people had taken into account the impressive array of guests and speakers at the 2016 Stand4Truth conference HoustonPastor Jesse Lee Peterson is a well-known, well-received speaker and leader on all conservative matters.

He is the leader of the South LA Tea Party.

He is a Christian, a leader in the pro-family, and pro-father movement.

He has been a freuent guest at other pro-liberty movements and conferences, like the American Freedom Alliance in Los Angeles. He served as one of the hosts for the 2015 gathering. It was a privilege to meet him there and learn from other intellects in the fight to retain and restore Western culture and civilization.

This time, I got to see Pastor Jesse speak on the defense of family and gender as defined by Biblical morality and biology.

Like Pastor Bill Owens, who had spoken on Friday, October 28th at the Stand4Truth conference, Peterson blasted the Democratic Party and its big government cheer-leader, Lyndon Baines Johnson, for ruining the black family.

The whole Democratic agenda targeted African-Americans, inducing mothers to give up the father in order to receive welfare from the state. This program has not helped black communities, but rather set them back, make them a new form of slaves under government lash.

The whole agenda has focused on getting rid of men, diminishing manhood.

Unlike many leaders and readers of the Civil Rights Movement, Peterson identified one homosexual who was preeminent in the movement, and how that upset many of King's fellow activists.

Peterson did not mention that person by name. He was Bayard Rustin.

What many people do not understand, though, is that at the time, Rustin kept his sexual behavior to himself. He had to.

Today, many black leaders recognize that such conduct does not qualify as a civil right.

Here are Pastor Jesse Lee Peterson's comments:

By and large, black pastors have demonstrated the real boldness we need to see in all church leaders and members. We need to stop being afraid of the Gospel, stop running away from the Good News, and stop hiding the truth about the destructive ideology of the LGBT agenda.

Our rights come from God, not the state. Our authority does not require sanction or approval from the government. No one should be bullied or intimidated into saying nothing as the foundation of our culture slips away under our feet, leaving nothing for our children or future generations to stand on.

Pastor Jesse gets it, and wants everyone else to get, and get with it.

What a great man. A leader in the fight to restore men and boys to their rightful place as leaders and readers, movers and shakers in our shaken society!

Thoughts on the American Freedom Alliance

Two years in a row, I have been invited to the American Freedom Alliance dinner in Los Angeles. This celebratory event recognizes men and women who have fought for the furtherance and survival of Western Civilization. Individual worth and local sovereignty, the pursuit of truth as paramount instead of power, and the respect for the Divine Creater and His objective justice: these values animate the life and worth of the entire world, and the manifold blessings of Western Civilization.

This year as well as last year, Larry Elder, the conservative radio host from KABC, hosted both events. His work to expand a respect for liberty and truth, at the expense of despotism and deception, influenced my understanding of free markets and free enterprise, spiritual authority working in  or temporal settings.

Essayist and comedian Evan Sayet served as the Master of Ceremonies the second time.

I loved attending both events.

Avi Davis, the founder of the American Freedom Alliance, was alive in 2015.

We commemorated his work this year, since he passed away so suddenly, so sadly.

Two well-connected conservatives had invited me to both events, to meet the allies, friends, and even the family members of that great man.

Both times, incredible conservatives were honored for their work defending Western Civilization. Academics who stood up to government collusion in the sciences. Journalists who challenged the lies of the status quo. Economists and social scientists who debunked the progressive myths of our modern area—all were welcomed with great fanfare.

I met some of them outside of that event, and learned about their fights against oppressive regimes and a suspect media working to suppress the truth. A lot of information passes from media to man, and back and forth. Some of the well-educated speakers feared the worst for Europe.

"It's too late," one of the speakers grimly determined.

I cannot agree with that. However, if men and women choose to content themselves with the slow demise of the world around them, then indeed Europe is lost, and so is America.

For the two times that I attended, I found a great deal to be happy about, notwithstanding the dour state of our world and the warring nations within.

Freedom fighters are winning. They embrace the divine love and truth of God.

Many Jewish people were present both times. I respect the traditions and values of our Judeo-Christian culture, and the Orthodox Jews in attendance reminded me to retain a grave reverence for the Jewish people and the values which they have affirmed in our society.

And yet, we need more than a set of standards. We need the power to allow them into our lives. We need more than the law. We need the grace, the loving, unconditional favor of CHRIST.

I am not afraid to write those words. We must not be afraid to speak those words. Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson of South Los Angeles (a well-regarded contact and spokesman for the American Freedom Alliance) reached out and rears boys to become men, even when their fathers have left them, or when they never knew their fathers to begin with.

These efforts, these alliances make all the difference. We cannot allow these victories to go unnoticed.

I also respected hearing about the deeper rot afflicting our culture. A perverse desire to remove distinctions has overtaken our leaders. Male and female should not mean anything. Right and wrong have no merit. Should life and death become a nullity, too?

Conservative Jewish columnist Dennis Prager recently wrote a thorough, probing article about the Left's vicious ambitions, which proved this strange desire. The Left wants to get rid of standards. The Left wants everything to have an equal end, or to have the same status, just as Adam and Eve wanted to be like God, to have life independent of the Creator, who later had to become their Redeemer.

These observations were well-received. I ponder them still.

Discussion is good. Celebration of all that makes Western Civilization wonderful, that is welcome.

But discussion is not enough.

We need action.

We need to confront the malefactors in our streets, in our city councils. As Jude wrote to the Church: "We must contend earnestly for the faith."

The wicked forces at work in our world will not be slayed with discussion. Their followers will understand once they are taught the truth from the error, from the lie, from the deception.

Those who thrive on the lies, who disseminate the falsehoods to bless themselves: they must be stopped.

Are we agitating against the corruption? Are we educating young people to care about the values of their elders?

The discussion groups, the seminars, the awards dinners will not save our culture.

To sit back and watch everything fall apart is not enough.

How many more dinners are people going to attend?

We need to raise funds to help individuals fight and win the culture wars.

The key word--win.

Western Civilization cannot die. It must win, or there is no civilization at all.

And we must fight--and we can fight, will fight--to ensure this victory.