if you can't say something nice...
...go stand in this cage over here.
you might expect protestors to be kept well away from the president when he visits the philippines, known to be kind of, well, iffy in the terrorist department...
Up to 4,000 protesters burned U.S. flags and an effigy of a pirate-dressed Bush as his motorcade sped by on the opposite side of the highway en route to the House of Representatives, where he addressed a joint session of Congress.
Waving anti-U.S. placards and streamers saying "Ban Bush" and "Bush No. 1 terrorist," the protesters were cordoned off by anti-riot police and Philippine marines.
Security forces effectively blocked Bush's view of the demonstrators by lining up tall army trucks along the middle of the road. Some protesters stood on top of the vehicles to raise their streamers.
As I walked in that direction, I passed a community park and baseball field enclosed by a six-foot high chain link fence. Inside the fenced area was a group of people with signs protesting various aspects of Bush policies. At the gates to the park were armed police officers. The protesters were standing against the fence with their hands grasping the fencing. On the outside, people carrying pro-Bush signs stood on the sidewalk or proceeded unchallenged toward the rally site.
The captive protesters, noting my sign, told me I would have to join them inside the cage...I decided to stay outside the fence and display my sign...
Within a short time, two uniformed Allegheny police officers approached me and demanded that I enter the “designated free speech zone.” I quietly refused, stating that a designated free-speech zone is a contradiction in terms and that the whole country is a free speech zone.
Comments
Well, it does allow you to publish your views. Perhaps the freedoms enjoyed in other countries of the worl are more to your liking.
Love,
YoRightWingDaddy
Posted by: yo'daddy | October 19, 2003 08:05 PM
nah, i like the ones guaranteed by our constitution just fine...when they're upheld.
Posted by: julie | October 19, 2003 11:40 PM
Where are they not being allowed to express their opinion? If the television crews are all that intrested, they certainly are not barred from going over there! They are protesting, gathering, expressing their opinion. I guess these people want those nice days of the late 60's where they could chain themselves to the road in the way of a presidental vehicle. Lotsa good that did.
Posted by: Tim | October 20, 2003 12:13 PM
hm. are you saying you see nothing wrong when people with "i [heart] bush" signs can roam freely, but people with "i'm not so enamored of bush" signs can't?
Posted by: julie | October 20, 2003 12:30 PM
the beauty of this coutry is that you can stand up and shoult "if you don't like it here, move to afghanistan!" and no one minds, even though the very notion is completely anti-american.
Posted by: terry | October 20, 2003 02:09 PM