We The People...
One of the bedrocks of this nation, and one of the amazing things in its history, is our Constitution. Although there were precedents such as Magna Carta, the Constitution as a political and administrative document was so different from what previous societies did that it's mind-boggling to realize how a group of men from the monied classes in a colonial outpost away from what was then considered the "civilized" world came up with such a framework that contained the potential that it did. On top of this, the Bill of Rights set the tone for much of the history that has followed since.
It's the promise of the Bill of Rights and what it means to me that has me disgusted, appalled, saddened, and yes, frightened for what is happening these days. A cabal of self-interested, power-hungry opportunists are destroying what America stands for, bit by bit. Here is an example of what I mean. When you have taxpayers footing the bill for what is supposed to be a public event and a chance to see the President, whether elected or appointed, you expect the event to be open to all. Instead we have an administration and a political party hell-bent on excluding half the nation from participating in the civic aspects of our society. Personally, I have no interest in seeing Junior or his henchmen, but as a citizen who exercises the right to vote, as a once and future taxpayer, I have the right to attend a public rally or similar taxpayer-funded event that is open to all.
In the same vein, it is disturbing to read the paper every so often and hear about "free speech zones." Not only does it demonstrate how cowardly and thin-skinned our "leaders" are, it chills the right to dissent. For the most part, it's the current administration and the GOP that's suppressing free speech, but the Dems aren't blameless either. It's off of most people's radar now, but during the Democratic Convention in Boston last year, protesters of all stripes were confined behind barbed wire and chain link fences, blocks away from the convention site itself. Ostensibly, putting all protesters in one area away from our *ELECTED* PUBLIC officials is necessary in the wake of 9/11, and in the name of "Homeland Security" (everytime I hear that phrase, Nazi Germany comes to mind: the "Fatherland," the "Homeland"), but I see it as a form of censorship, and an assault on First Amendment rights. Right now it's anyone who doesn't toe the line on Junior's policies, but the precedent established here means that under a future administration/government, it could be an entirely different group that is shuttled aside, hidden, suppressed, and yes, arrested for daring to voice their opinions. Equally ominous is that the Secret Service, that band of men originally formed to combat counterfeit currency and later charged with being the President's bodyguards (they "protect" the President, or provide "security," but when it comes right down to it, they're essentially federal bodyguards), are directing the formation of these "free speech zones" and in my opinion, really stretching the boundaries of their job description. Instead of ensuring the President's safety, this administration is turning them into the goon squad, which I think diminishes the role of the Secret Service.
I haven't yet seen proof, but I'd be willing to bet that the names that are compiled and the lists that are provided directing who is to be barred from public events is being disseminated to other federal agencies for other forms of suppression and discrimination, such as the federal "do not fly" lists. When anti-war protesters find themselves on such lists, it doesn't strain credulity to think that perhaps there is an equivalent of Nixon's "enemies" list being drafted by party hacks and political operatives on the local level and then forwarded to the appropriate national counterparts.
What is far more worrisome is that there doesn't seem to be a groundswell of support for overturning these policies. People by and large seem content to ignore what's going on; as long as it doesn't affect them or their pocketbook personally, who cares if that girl with tattoos or that guy with long hair got arrested for refusing to enter a "free speech zone"? Who cares if they weren't able to fly from Seattle to Washington, D.C.? Who cares if people are discouraged from their constitutional right to state their opinion? But at some point, there's going to be an issue that people by and large care about, and will want to voice opposition on; will there be an effort to mute their objections in the future, based on the foundations being laid now? Will it be too late to restore the freedoms we theoretically enjoy?
It's the promise of the Bill of Rights and what it means to me that has me disgusted, appalled, saddened, and yes, frightened for what is happening these days. A cabal of self-interested, power-hungry opportunists are destroying what America stands for, bit by bit. Here is an example of what I mean. When you have taxpayers footing the bill for what is supposed to be a public event and a chance to see the President, whether elected or appointed, you expect the event to be open to all. Instead we have an administration and a political party hell-bent on excluding half the nation from participating in the civic aspects of our society. Personally, I have no interest in seeing Junior or his henchmen, but as a citizen who exercises the right to vote, as a once and future taxpayer, I have the right to attend a public rally or similar taxpayer-funded event that is open to all.
In the same vein, it is disturbing to read the paper every so often and hear about "free speech zones." Not only does it demonstrate how cowardly and thin-skinned our "leaders" are, it chills the right to dissent. For the most part, it's the current administration and the GOP that's suppressing free speech, but the Dems aren't blameless either. It's off of most people's radar now, but during the Democratic Convention in Boston last year, protesters of all stripes were confined behind barbed wire and chain link fences, blocks away from the convention site itself. Ostensibly, putting all protesters in one area away from our *ELECTED* PUBLIC officials is necessary in the wake of 9/11, and in the name of "Homeland Security" (everytime I hear that phrase, Nazi Germany comes to mind: the "Fatherland," the "Homeland"), but I see it as a form of censorship, and an assault on First Amendment rights. Right now it's anyone who doesn't toe the line on Junior's policies, but the precedent established here means that under a future administration/government, it could be an entirely different group that is shuttled aside, hidden, suppressed, and yes, arrested for daring to voice their opinions. Equally ominous is that the Secret Service, that band of men originally formed to combat counterfeit currency and later charged with being the President's bodyguards (they "protect" the President, or provide "security," but when it comes right down to it, they're essentially federal bodyguards), are directing the formation of these "free speech zones" and in my opinion, really stretching the boundaries of their job description. Instead of ensuring the President's safety, this administration is turning them into the goon squad, which I think diminishes the role of the Secret Service.
I haven't yet seen proof, but I'd be willing to bet that the names that are compiled and the lists that are provided directing who is to be barred from public events is being disseminated to other federal agencies for other forms of suppression and discrimination, such as the federal "do not fly" lists. When anti-war protesters find themselves on such lists, it doesn't strain credulity to think that perhaps there is an equivalent of Nixon's "enemies" list being drafted by party hacks and political operatives on the local level and then forwarded to the appropriate national counterparts.
What is far more worrisome is that there doesn't seem to be a groundswell of support for overturning these policies. People by and large seem content to ignore what's going on; as long as it doesn't affect them or their pocketbook personally, who cares if that girl with tattoos or that guy with long hair got arrested for refusing to enter a "free speech zone"? Who cares if they weren't able to fly from Seattle to Washington, D.C.? Who cares if people are discouraged from their constitutional right to state their opinion? But at some point, there's going to be an issue that people by and large care about, and will want to voice opposition on; will there be an effort to mute their objections in the future, based on the foundations being laid now? Will it be too late to restore the freedoms we theoretically enjoy?
posted by Mr. Sandman | 7:35 PM
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