When the people that founded this country established the amendment guaranteeing that the rights of speech would be protected, they were different times. A handful of corporations didn’t control the media, and special interest groups didn’t even exist. Now the idea of a country tolerant and respectful of diverse ideas is becoming a mere memory, and the battle can’t even be fought in the courtrooms as it once was.

Burn, baby, burn.

The panic rippling through the entertainment industry since Don Imus’ firing has reached critical mass. Yesterday, XM Satellite Radio, a subscriber-based pay service, suspended the Opie and Anthony Show for 30 days, and inside sources have been indicated their removal is permanent. This comes as a reaction to comments a homeless man on their show made about lusting after several prominent political figures.

This move comes not as a reaction to an outcry from an offended public. In fact, XM advertises the show as “raw, outrageous, and uncensored” and the segment was common fare for the show. It comes as a result of certain political figures, Al Sharpton chief among them, who are lobbying to threaten the merger between XM and Sirius to leverage against the show.

Basically, these people are dictating what kind of comedy I’m allowed to spend my money on. We’ve crossed the line. This isn’t about business or sponsors any more, this about a small number of people deciding what can and can’t be said publicly. These people have too much power and it’s time to push back.

So what can we do? Don’t be a silent majority any more. Sign up for People Against Censorship a new advocacy group giving the opposition a voice. They represent the many of us that are content to be offended from time to time for the sake of having a country that’s proud to have a dialog of disparate ideas.

If you subscribe to XM, cancel your subscription today. Don’t take the free months, rebates or discounts they’ll throw at you. CANCEL. They don’t care about providing the service they advertise. If they decide to change their position and stand behind the creative freedoms of their on-air talent, you can always resubscribe, but until then, hit them where it hurts.