Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
Professor, Chicago Theological Seminary

Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

Former president of Chicago Theological Seminary (1998-2008), Thistlethwaite is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

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Do Christian Beliefs Preclude Freedom of Speech?

In the 17th century, John Locke published Two Treatises of Government and also A Letter Concerning Toleration. These two essays challenged both the church and the state and made a strong claim for toleration of religious freedom and dissent, in effect, a claim for the freedom of speech. The works were so dangerously controversial that Locke first published them anonymously, and then, in fear of his life, fled England and went to Holland from 1683 to 1689 to avoid being hung.

In Locke’s time, Protestants and Catholics were constantly in an often violent power struggle in England. Some people felt that the only way to avoid civil unrest was to bring the church and the state together and in that way secure order. Dissent was not to be tolerated as it would both imperil a person’s salvation and undermine civil authority. In Locke’s time, freedom of speech was, in effect, un-Christian because it would lead you to damnation.

Locke argued that using force to enjoin religious conformity would actually in the end undermine both faith and society. He advocated tolerance not only for Protestants, but Catholics, Jews, Muslims or “Mahometans,” Native Americans and pagans.

Locke also realized that what appears to be a religious reason for clamping down free speech is really often just a political ploy for exercising absolute power and observed how religion becomes a political cloak for “covetousness, rapine, and ambition.”

We need to apply the same kind of analysis to the case in Afghanistan. Is this really an issue of the Islamic faith per se, or of the consolidation of political power and the suppression of free speech for political not religious purposes?

Digging a little more deeply into the story, it becomes apparent that the charges were aimed at this young man for the purpose of intimidation of his older brother who had recently published an article implicating an Afghan legislator in a series of killings and kidnappings. I can tell you as someone who lives and works in Chicago, this is a not uncommon story of political abuse of power with or without the cloak of religion.

I join with those who are calling on the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, to intervene in the case. It is an outrage that this journalism student has been sentenced to death. It also sadly shows how much our neglect of Afghanistan in order to pursue the Iraq misadventure has allowed the country to come to the brink of being a failed state.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite  |  February 1, 2008; 7:24 AM ET
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Mary you think that might have something to do with the Pope excommunicating Henry VIII, followed by the Spanish Armada and numerous wars between England and various Catholic countries in which there was an attempt infrequently successful to utilize the followers of the RC as a sort of fifth column.

Posted by: Garyd | February 5, 2008 9:50 AM
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John Southwell, guilty of being a priest,hung at Tyburn in 1654. Here is the exact reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Southworth_(martyr)

Posted by: Mary Cunningham | February 5, 2008 5:30 AM
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Rev. Thistlethwaite,

Your English history could be a wee bit better. When Henry VIII proclaimed himself leader of the church as well asthe realm he similarly redefined religious dissent as treason and executed dissenters accordingly. By the 17th the struggle was over and Catholics were ruled rather than tolerated.

In Locke's time Catholics in England were subject to the most stringent of discrimination, the last Catholic bishop in England to be executed (in 1650) is entombed in Westminster Cathedral.

Posted by: MaryCunningham | February 5, 2008 5:22 AM
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Ms. Thistlewaite that was the Roman Catholic Church. Neither The Eastern Orthodox nor the Copts thought that way. And both went back further then the Roman Catholic church which frankly does not exist until Leo I in spite of their claims to the contrary.

Posted by: Garyd | February 4, 2008 8:44 PM
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Rev Thistlethewaite,

John Locke was a Whig and, as such, against freedom of worship for English Catholics, he felt they were ignorant and disloyal (kind of like many of the posters on "On Faith"). Whigs would use anti-papist bias, would fan the flames really until about 1800 or so. The last anti-Catholic riots--in 1780 in London--the Gordon Riots, lasted a terrible, chaotic week and the gov't eventually had to call in the troops to put it down..

Locke was, however, more tolerant of dissenters, Protestant Dissenters though, not Catholic ones.

Catholics could not freely worship in Great Britain until 1829. Ironically Catholics in the colony of Quebec, French Canadian Catholics, were granted freedom of religion decades earlier.

As a postscript: how can you pontificate about "free speech" in Afghanistan when in light of what happened to Arun Ghandi I would say free speech in America is limited?

Posted by: MaryCunningham | February 4, 2008 11:06 AM
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Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 4, 2008 10:58 AM
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Rev. Thistlethwaite, I agree with you that religion is used as a tool by the powerful to regulate behavior.

Posted by: FRIEND | February 4, 2008 9:38 AM
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The correct wording is "to avoid being hanged".

That said, Freedom of Speech (and inquiry, and thought) is the one indispensible freedom. With it, all is possible - without it, tyranny is inevitable.

Posted by: MORTAL | February 4, 2008 9:04 AM
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It would seem curious to speak about freedom of speech where Christianity is concerned--especially when Jesus told his apostles, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15). Christianity--in order to comply with this commandment--must respect freedom of speech.

Posted by: gimmal | February 3, 2008 8:04 PM
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It would seem curious to speak about freedom of speech where Christianity is concerned--especially when Jesus told his apostles, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15). Christianity--in order to comply with this commandment--must respect freedom of speech.

Posted by: An Interested Reader | February 3, 2008 7:44 PM
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"kullu nefsin zaik atul mevt" is not "every person shall taste death".

here are the words :

kullu : all of them
nefsin : minds, self, personality
i couldnt find "zaik"

atul : to enter, to lunge, to move forward
mevt : border

this is "every one shall cross the border, shall cross the line, shall pass to the other side of the veil, shall be mature, shall be wise, shall be an element of unity, shall drink the beverage of love, thymuse gland shall be juiceful".

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 3, 2008 10:43 AM
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i want to talk about Britney Spears

she was hospitalised, she had not any underwear on at a kids school and she had not any underwear while getting off the cars.

is this internal, is this encarnational, is this national, or is this in her ear whispered?

is United Kingdom cross with Prophet Tailorship?
why did United Kingdom establish Israel in Middle EAst?

Cars are known with West of Anatolia, Egyptians and Hittitians. Hittitian is an Indo-European language. Celts were in the capital of Hittitians.

people in the Capital of Hittitians and Bodrum HAlikarnissos are employed in the construction of Temple of Solemon under electromagnetics. who is David, who is Andreas Idris?

why did Churchill employ Celts Irish in Australia and New Zealand known with Anatolia to be in Anatolia in First World WAr? why was World Trade Center of Churchill MArlborough Family dilepidated?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 3, 2008 10:35 AM
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here is Nazi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_of_Nazianzus

"la ilahe illallah, Muhammeden resulullah". this is not "there is no god but Allah and Muhammed is His prophet".

the verb "LAH" is to be, to exist
"EL" is an article like THE.
resul is messenger, speaker, postman, teacher

Allah is the Existants and Presents, and Ahmet is one of them. we are talking about teachers doctors who raise. this simple. like the difference between Doctor and The Doctor, in English grammar. The Doctor in Istanbul, The Doctor in Greece, The Doctor in Vatican. The Doctor in Egypt. The Doctor in Delhi. The Doctor in Warsaw. The Doctor Moscow. The Doctor in Peru. The Doctor in Sydney. The Doctor in Delaware. The Doctor in HAyfa. is there any difference between doctors? i am one of emergency doctors.

did you hear about a doctor who claims himself the only doctor? we are at the hospital. and this hospital is whirling and wending on Space Pace.

with hospitality. thank you Mrs Thislethwaite.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 3, 2008 5:15 AM
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at nights i wake up and turn on TV to see what is on
there was a Spanish movie last night

a Christorian Teacher at University was at hospital
his friends came to visit Him and they talked

i stood up hearing His breathing amongst the trees and the sun

there was The Legend of 1900

a man coat and hat on with triumphet came to the loaner
the life-keeper gave him 10 bucks and adviced him to have supper

he played his life in front of him, and showed him who was in
then the loaner gave him 20 bucks and the triumphet
and we watched him walking on the shining way in the morning,
the loaner was greeting behind him standing in front of the shop
a new customer came and the loaner took him in

what is a chicken that gives the eggs to ease the life of her beloveds
what is a dog with a red tennis ball in his mouth, the stripes of the ball was white?

i love HSBC, they accept and they hug, is there ADGT too with HSBC?
Susan Brooks is expecting Peace of X in love in hurt for all to hug in grace

MAdeline Albright, maide leane All Bright, leaning onto the MAid is the Merryline
Collin Powell is Calling Paul,

willsmith says "i am immune, i am Legend with genetics of Le"
Condaliza Rice crowned all "Le Son" race, with liaison lesson.

is Sarkozy "Share Cow Z"? and how are the greenhouse gases treated all around the world?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 3, 2008 1:26 AM
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"Locke also realized that what appears to be a religious reason for clamping down free speech is really often just a political ploy for exercising absolute power and observed how religion becomes a political cloak for 'covetousness, rapine, and ambition.'"

Well said, well cited, and a pointer to a critically important insight.

Posted by: The Moderate | February 2, 2008 11:32 PM
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Quran, Surah Light, Verse 31st
the words are : breasts, genitals, small woven cloth known around before Ahmet, to put.

Prophet known with Tailorship was around.

1. this is bra (it is "cloth for milk" in this language)
2. this is education on how to make love
3. this is underware

in Quran, in another verse,
women are invited not to shake their breasts, may be to put bra.

Wife of Sarkozy Madam Bruni has been introduced
with white bikini taken by the sea.

i think France shall smell lovely.

i shall talk about manual pleasure in Quran.

1. it is for light and to cheer up
2. in order not to suffer
3. in order to have balance and rest

this is known with St Paul, as far as i know.

we may apply a technique

1. in case of excess amount of energy that keeps us unbalanced and busy
2. to have peaceful relations

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/8152326.asp?yazarid=72&gid=61&sz=48773


Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 3:04 PM
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to bring closer to the prayer Namaz, positions of Namaz is explained with Yoga.

in Namaz, Ahmet prophet was putting His grandsons onto His shoulders while standing, He was taking from His shoulders and putting next to Him cheerfully to touch the Ground with His forehead.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 1:54 PM
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rahmet : grace
rahm etmek : to put onto way, to educate
rahm etmek : to grace
abraham : rab raham : graceful teacher.

Ahmet prophet.

for Ahmet prophet was poisoned
for what Ahmet prophet left was governed by the family who had made war against Him

for what is from His mouth is simple cheerful and graceful, for what is in History after Him with His name is not graceful and cheerful, for i have seen what is from Abraham in Him

i shall not accept any action within today's countries with His name which is not graceful and cheerful, which disturbs and irritates

and i shall invite the addressees to see what is from Abraham, and to see what is in their grace, attainments and virtues.

original name of Ahmet prophet is Ebul KAsim, literally "Son of KAsim". Kasimpati is Chrysanthemum, literally "FAther of Kasim".

the Prophet before Ahmet is the Father of Ebul Kasim. Muhammed is an adjective, not a name. Ahmet is the family name.

in Sanskrit, pati is father, master, ruler, husband. and in some regions of India, many words are some kind of Hebrew.

Abraham is known with India and Sanskrit in Hebrew. Namaz, the prayer, literally "greeting", sounds from the word "namaste"

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 1:45 PM
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Microsoft is known with

1. closed box software
2. price
3. human simulation

closed box software provided control and flow of project. human simulation shall provide a courier language to see. price was a contribution for it to develop and keep interest to attend

with Microsoft was linguistics and combination of branches of science. it provided standards everywhere and availability for cooperation

to provide information and the way you keep it is vital. the attainments, virtues and intend to provide are important.

the language kept on the services is still a functioning courier. and Microsoft has an established structure to build.

i think Microsoft shall work For the Roof of Zech's House. and i am sure Yahoo shall have his own evaluation on this case.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 10:58 AM
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slavery in Africa, Kenyans who had been taken to USA, working in cotton and tobacco fields that led to American Civil War shall be ended.

Arabs Germany Britain are involved.
Ottomans and Portugal are to be heard.

http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/kenya

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 6:40 AM
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i am asked for her body not to decay or decompose. so i shall not accept or increase any dispute but shall stand for love and peace to have the caroll that shall touch and unite each and every heart, as do water crystals.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 6:27 AM
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what is the proposal of Microsoft to Yahoo, against Google of Stanford of Condaliza Rice?

does "44.6" sound as "go-og.le"?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 6:24 AM
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did USA dilepidate World Trade Towers in New York of Churchill Marlborough Family, Grandfather of LAdy Diana, to ome to Anatolia?

who is Williams Bush? who is NAzi Hitler? who is Germany, who is Tom Cruise? where are Germen protestants? are there free protestants? or are there those who have another path of belief? why did Williams Bush go to Israel for two dawns?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 6:15 AM
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Syria, Nestorianism

Ottomans sent Armenians to Syria
France gathered Armenians to Mersin

in Cilicia are greeks also and so are in Sinop
Sinop another nuclear plant center in Northern Black Sea, under Ukrain.

Germany, Ottomans, Armenians
French educated Ataturk, GErmany, World War
VAtican, Lousanne, immigration, armenians, greeks

kurds, Israel, ship of Noah in South Anatolia kurds and Israel praise, PKK 1987, KEnan Evren 1980 and Israel. Kenan Evren in alliance with Israel and USA.

Inonu from Malatya, Turgut Ozal from Malatya
George HW Bush in alliance with Turgut Ozal.

turgut ozal first prime minister after 1980
Ship of Noah in East of Anatolia Armenians praise.

VAtican did not accept NEstorian church into Agreement of Churches with Orthodox and UUC, as far as i know.

what is the bill Williams Bush had signed on behalf of VAtican? have Hillary Clinton "greek clinton" and other candidates sworn for the Queen, as far as i have heard?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 6:08 AM
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American Civil War, North South
Lincoln Kennedy, Melungeons

Churchill, MArlborough, World Trade Center
Adana, Inonu,

USA, Mersin Tarsus, St PAul
American Civil War, cotton

Native Americans, Scotland, United Kingdom
New York, Freedom of USA and Canada

why did USA come to North Iraq?
who did dilepidate World Trade Towers?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 5:57 AM
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who is John Paul II the Polish who had blessed Ephesus in His visit around 1960? he was assasinated by Mehmet Ali Agca educated by Soviets, later forgiven by Pope.

now sister of Mehmet Ali Agca is married with an italian senator in Italy, she is covered in the head.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 5:25 AM
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Previous Prime Minister of Germany Schroeder, before Merkel.

consultant to Russian Petroleum GAs Company Gasprom, inviting businessmen to Northern Cyprus.

what is in Cyprus?

did St Nicholas carry MAry to Tarsus? was he Paul who had gone crazy?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 5:18 AM
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Mersin, port of Adana

Adana is the cotton fields that had given the cotton in American Civil War
USA, France, Italy Embassies date back to 1866 in Mersin.

in Mersin is Levantenes of Italy and Venice. there are churches and grand cathedrals in Mersin
in Mersin is St Paul, 2008 is for St Paul by VAtican.

in Mersin carrot and turnip swede grow,
turnip is known before pumpkin, in Russia.

around the heads of masters, navy commanders and governors
there are cloths wrapped similar to pumpkin in shape.

Nuclear Research Reactor is given to government in 1960
for planting Jupiter Missile System

Mersin is where Levant Canaan region begins in field to Egypt

in Cilicia there were concentration camps for Armenians by French
in these concentration camps, armenians are known as slaughtered

neighbour city in Antalya is St Nicholas,
in neighbour village Alanya are germen, swedish, norwegian and dutch.

St PAul had a house and a water well in the garden in Tarsus
village for pilgrimage by Vatican

House of MAry is known in Tarsus near St PAul,
also Seven Sleepers are in TArsus too.

who are those Seven Sleepers and House of MAry in Ephesus then?

Temple of Zeus Jupiter is in TArsus too,
shall France, who made agreements to build in Suudi Arabia too, build the nuclear plant?

was it Vatican to slaughter Armenians?
was it Vatican to dilepidate World Trade Towers by France Legion? or was it United Kingdom? did France apologize from Vatican with World Trade Towers?

i had seen MAry in her grave in cloths her head covered.
or she appeared or i was taken to her. or she have been shown to me.

is she in Tarsus by St Paul?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 5:02 AM
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and here is the question.
Do Christian Beliefs Preclude Freedom of Speech?

sword in a stone is education by a master. legal marriage and child with a known father is the education by a master. women may have children, the father to be known is the masters. it is not the physical father. divorce and marriage in France are to be applied into differential equations.

to announce to at least two people, later to friends and parents with a meal is enough for a marriage. and also to divorce is with a strength and duration of a breath in the lungs to be able to aggree on divorce and approval three times.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 3:38 AM
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more than 50% of the folk in Anatolia is kept in credit card debt. 99% of the folk in Anatolia is in mobile phone coverage. maybe covered triple times, for there are four companies with coverage systems of their own, two in alliance.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 3:25 AM
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Ataturk was given mercury to take excess amount of water in his liver, by German Austrian doctors till his death on 10 November 1938 10.11.19.38 : 10.11.10.11

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 3:21 AM
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Cnbc-e Smallville

an irish woman running an hotel mostly in kitchen
and a baseball man with jeans and coat riding an old ford track
village of Superman

Cnbc-e New Adventures of Old Christine

a jewish woman married with a polish, divorced,
the husband is in relation with new christine, contracter
unable to build or fix the pipes

has a son who sleeps with thunders and strikenings
with a piece of his childhood blanket

Superman

supper man, pilar catters
green house gases, State of Union, green cryptonit
a green stone with text on it

De-seperate Housewives, partner of Superman
Smallville

Morning Cartoons are from Utah and Israel
NAtional Geographic is with sharks and dolphins
Nikoleddeon is with Water Keeper Sponge

Ephesus, Greek Onassis FAmily in Ephesus

Onassis Tobacco and Petroleums, in business with soviets
Bride of Kennedy FAmily,

Lousanne Agreement, Switzerland Army of Vatican
greek turk immigration exchange, Ataturk was not a master

Venizelos Ataturk, partnership
Ataturk had adopted an armenian girl.

Archbishop of Greece died of cancer
Archbishop of KAdikoy led the funeral

Arabian Peninsula, Red Sea, Moses, Ahmet,
Noah, Ethiopia, Enoch, Kenya, Sudan

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 3:18 AM
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who is St Nicholas who had gone crazy because of rape and murder of Sophia in front of Him by a Roman General?

in this language, prophet before Ahmet is "Isa", and Isa is from "Isaac", son of Abraham "he shall laugh"

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 1:41 AM
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how many Jesus are there?

who is Jesus in jerusalem? who is jesus in Ephesus? the latter one in Ephesus is St John, first Apostle, son of Jewish Zebedee "gift of god". what happened to the Jesus in Bethlehem NAzareth "House of Bread, beth lekhem"?

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 1:36 AM
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last night there was a video record of the fire on TV,
on the record the first fire eruption had been zoomed from a building top into the fire between buildings.

it was not one of national channels. and it was not public security cameras
it was a mobile phone record with low resolution.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 1:24 AM
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freedom of speech requires language, madam.

it is because of language that one of two persons may be praised though other is murdered in the same subject, within freedom of speech for both.

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 1:04 AM
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Davutpasa Fireworks
more than 20 died more than 100 injured.

Davutpasa is "Minister David"
fireworks is maytap in this language "my tap"

Williams Bush had tapped the shoulder of President Abdullah Gul in his recent visit in a few weeks time.

Son of Koc Family, of Fiat and Ford CAr Companies since 1950, Mustafa Koc is married with CArolyn Koc.
what is the relation with Kennedy and Onassis FAmilies?

Koc FAmily is in relation with China, Russia, United Kingdom and Orthodox Church Archbishop who led the funeral of Archbishop of Greece

Posted by: Levent Alkan | February 2, 2008 12:58 AM
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