The Voice of Patriotism
columnist: Mary MacElveen

Topic: Constitutional Issues
“Help what have I done?” The abridgement of free speech

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I have often said of our founders, they were geniuses when it came to drafting the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They must be saying how dumb some are for not upholding these rights guaranteed to ‘we the people’.

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by Mary MacElveen
(Libertarian)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

In watching this disturbing feed in which an audience member challenges Senator John Kerry concerning the 2004 presidential outcome, you will clearly see he was not a threat to anyone.  So, the question is; why did the police move in and taser this man for asking a question that is most likely in the minds of others?

I noticed that this same feed was picked up by MSNBC and was bantered about by Tucker Carlson and Willy Geist who is a frequent guest of his.  Geist opines this man’s question as being “strange” and who is he to judge a question that has been on the minds of many as I read various political lists?  Most likely he opined it “strange” because the man cites ‘Skull and Bones’ which is a society that both Senator Kerry and President Bush belonged to while attending Yale. 

CBS did a piece on Skull and Bones back in June of 2004 in which they wrote of it, “Bonesmen, as they're called, are forbidden to reveal what goes on in their inner sanctum, the windowless building on the Yale campus that is called the Tomb.” I do not know about you, but I find that strange and not the question asked of Kerry’s and Bush’s membership to it.

This event took place at the University of Florida and I am of the opinion that a university is a place where students are supposed to be learning and that does mean asking questions.  They should be free to ask questions of invited guests.  Shouldn’t they?

Geist states that this man “disrupted” the event as he asked that question of Senator Kerry.  From what I saw it was the police who disrupted the event.  This is disturbing on so many levels where a citizen of this country cannot even ask a question of an elected representative without being ensnared, a taser gun used on them and ultimately arrested.

Senator John Kerry served in the military and the military is used to fight for our freedoms and one of those freedoms is the first amendment to our United States Constitution.  Yesterday was Constitution Day and Senator Kerry should have stood in defense when that amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

The man arrested was exercising his right of free speech in asking that question. He was petitioning the government for a redress of grievances” since Senator Kerry is an elected representative of the Senate.  From what I viewed he was calmly asking the question thereby fulfilling that the people have the “right to peacefully assemble”

Geist opined that the “student became more and more worked up” Wait, just wait, Mr. Geist.  He was not getting worked up, but was calmly asking a question of Kerry. Mr. Geist, he was not being “annoying” or “pestering” Senator Kerry as you so stated on that program, merely asking a question and even citing Greg Palast.

Now let me opine on this arrest.  Instead of standing up on that stage, Senator Kerry should have told those police officers to stand down since he represents this government and he should have upheld our United States Constitution which he is sworn to uphold.

The chilling words that I heard is when this young man who had every right to ask these questions of Senator Kerry was, “Help!”…“What have I done?” and “I didn’t do anything!”  To that young man, you have not done anything and your first amendment rights were violated.

I also think what bothered me is the humorous nature both Carlson and Geist treated this abridgement of free speech.  They did so as they enjoy their first amendment rights day-in and day-out.  To that I also add, shame on both of them for treating this in such a jovial manner.

I have often said of our founders, they were geniuses when it came to drafting the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  They must be saying how dumb some are for not upholding these rights guaranteed to ‘we the people’.

Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net

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2007 Mary MacElveen, all rights reserved.
Published: Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Last modified: Tuesday, September 18, 2007

The views expressed in this article are those of Mary MacElveen only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Mary MacElveen is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.

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