You can't have the true "right" to speak freely if you rent a space but cannot make your message heard over people intent on making sure that your message isn't, either through intimidation, physical disruption or sheer volume. If a protestor is intent on negating your venue because they do not want your message to be heard, they are as bad as government thugs who arrest legitimate protestors.
Civilization requires that we respect each other's right to speak even when we don't want to hear what the other has to say--anything else is dogmatism, stagnation, failure to adhere either to the letter or the spirit of the Bill of Rights, not to mention just plain decency.
That being said, if things get any worse around here, I'll buy one of those posters myself and wear it in the name of Descartes, at least 'til I get shot.
I believe the venues in question are public streets. That's my issue with free speech zones.
Kicking protestors out of a private venue, like the convention center where the (Democratic|Republican) national commitee is being held, I'm cool with that. It's private property rights in action. But when you tell those protestors, "Sorry, but you can't hang out on the sidewalk across the street, but there's a free speech zone 12 blocks away for you", then I have an issue with that.
I can dig up some URLs of what I'm referring to if you're interested.
I admit I've been a bit out of touch, but the stories I've seen about such things don't suggest it's anything more than a traffic flow/logistics issue. I'm not naïve enough to believe there aren't very bad things going on in our government and (probably) ulterior motives for such zoning, but I'm wise enough to know that the protestors got more media coverage because of the zoning and furor therefrom--objective achieved! Free bonus!
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-10 05:28 pm (UTC)I'm glad to have been an inspiration! ;D
(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-10 08:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-10 08:54 pm (UTC)Dunno, I'm not the author of that picture.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-10 10:59 pm (UTC)You can't have the true "right" to speak freely if you rent a space but cannot make your message heard over people intent on making sure that your message isn't, either through intimidation, physical disruption or sheer volume. If a protestor is intent on negating your venue because they do not want your message to be heard, they are as bad as government thugs who arrest legitimate protestors.
Civilization requires that we respect each other's right to speak even when we don't want to hear what the other has to say--anything else is dogmatism, stagnation, failure to adhere either to the letter or the spirit of the Bill of Rights, not to mention just plain decency.
That being said, if things get any worse around here, I'll buy one of those posters myself and wear it in the name of Descartes, at least 'til I get shot.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-10 11:22 pm (UTC)I believe the venues in question are public streets. That's my issue with free speech zones.
Kicking protestors out of a private venue, like the convention center where the (Democratic|Republican) national commitee is being held, I'm cool with that. It's private property rights in action. But when you tell those protestors, "Sorry, but you can't hang out on the sidewalk across the street, but there's a free speech zone 12 blocks away for you", then I have an issue with that.
I can dig up some URLs of what I'm referring to if you're interested.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-10 11:33 pm (UTC)