Free Speech/First Amendment Zones

[House-Of-Leaves]

With the First Amendment of the Constitution comes the freedom of speech, and the right to have peaceful protests.

Here, in Portland, OR...when Bush visited? That was taken away.

Long story short: There was a free speech zone. FAR away from the President we were protesting, the media covering his visit, or even Dubya's supporters. THEY, of course, were allowed to line the streets of downtown Portland with their signs of encouragement. We, on the other hand? We were put behind a barrier. Out of view.

A few people in the front started mentioning that, HEY! That's breaking the First Amendment! We can go where ever we want, peacefully! We are NOT the ENEMY!

Rubber bullets and pepper spray. When a man tried to get his children out of the melee, by asking if he could go through the police line (he was directed INTO the running crowd)... He and his wife were sprayed with pepper spray. Their three-year old was, too. Their 10 month old? Face covered in spray.

A similar thing happened in Pittsburgh.

http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&;name=News&file=article&sid=170

I quote here the first lines of the author of the article in the above link: (by Regis T. Sabol)

:When Bush came to Pittsburgh on Labor Day, the Constitution left town and the demonstrators were corralled behind a chain-link fence like a gang of al Qaeda.

This scares me. And worries me for our children.

[MarijuanaClock]

Welcome to America, thanks to the USPA and the Homeland Security Act the Bill of Rights is now glorified shit paper. Realy I see it as a slow decent from this point on. Personal freedoms and civil liberties will sonn disapear. However, many democrats took part in passing both these laws. It's not just bush and the republicans, either way you go your fucked.

[House-Of-Leaves]

At 12/4/02 03:50 AM, MarijuanaClock wrote: Welcome to America, thanks to the USPA and the Homeland Security Act the Bill of Rights is now glorified shit paper. Realy I see it as a slow decent from this point on. Personal freedoms and civil liberties will sonn disapear. However, many democrats took part in passing both these laws. It's not just bush and the republicans, either way you go your fucked.

Ooh, I realize that. It's all parties. Bush is just a puppet, though I am a registered democrat. For me? The lesser of two evils.

That's why I state, to EVERYONE, I'm moving out of the country! I love the American people, deluded and scared as we are. But the leaders leave quite a bit to be desired.

[MarijuanaClock]

Speaking of Oregon they had a chance to bring in socialized medicare for the state(Like Canada) last election. Only 40% of the people voted for it though. Too bad.

[House-Of-Leaves]

Oregon also had a fuckhead like Lon Mabon running for senate or house, or possibly even governor. I can't remember which. I didn't follow him, because I knew he wouldn't win.

Founder of the OCC. Oregon Christian Coalition. HUGE Anti-gay activist, tried to pass a lot of anti-gay measures that have never passed. Talk about the mascot of the bigots? There's your man.

Medical care like Canada's, I've heard, is overrated. It might work well, but...it takes forever to get the help you need. I don't know, really...it has pros and cons.

[MarijuanaClock]

At 12/4/02 04:10 AM, House_Of_Leaves wrote:
Medical care like Canada's, I've heard, is overrated. It might work well, but...it takes forever to get the help you need. I don't know, really...it has pros and cons.

No ones refused, everyones treated equally, and Canada still has a higher health care standard then America. The only hinderance to it is poor managment.

[House-Of-Leaves]

I'll have to look into that more. I've been a little too involved with the anti-war / economy stuff to get into that. :)

By the way. You know how nice it is to talk to someone to spells stuff out, and actually knows what he's talking about? THANK YOU! *grin*

[MarijuanaClock]

At 12/4/02 04:17 AM, House_Of_Leaves wrote: I'll have to look into that more. I've been a little too involved with the anti-war / economy stuff to get into that. :)

By the way. You know how nice it is to talk to someone to spells stuff out, and actually knows what he's talking about? THANK YOU! *grin*

Hahaha, Thanks.

If it's one thing I hate it's people who spell words like "sux," and "sk8."

*Grin*

[House-Of-Leaves]

Oh, you should see me getting mouthy in the general forum, about spelling out 'u' and '4' and 'ur'. Gah, that gets on my nerves!

Regardless of how you spell things, though, it's the substance in your posts. I can't tell you how many times I've gone through the 'Bush is a moron' and 'Fuck Bush' forums (as many as there are), just to see a bunch of people calling names and crying out 'FUCK BUSH!' just so they SOUND informed.

[MarijuanaClock]

At 12/4/02 04:37 AM, House_Of_Leaves wrote:
Regardless of how you spell things, though, it's the substance in your posts. I can't tell you how many times I've gone through the 'Bush is a moron' and 'Fuck Bush' forums (as many as there are), just to see a bunch of people calling names and crying out 'FUCK BUSH!' just so they SOUND informed.

I'm glad I've left a good impression after so little time here. Indeed when someone types 'Bush is a moron' it reflects more on there character then Bush's Character. While I am by no means a Bush supporter(I openly critisize him) I think people should offer some substance to back up there statements.

[RandomFreak]

Well in the case you mention there are two sides to this. On the one hand I can understand them keeping protesters at a distance when the President was around, in that case it's really a safety issue. However the manor in which authorities responded was hardly justified, in fact in it rarely is. Whenever people protest the authorities prefer to overreact and go to far rather then risk a riot, usually causing the riot through their actions anyways. Free speech is touchy when it comes to public demonstrations because of issues of public (and in this case presidential) safety. People can say what they want, it's when they say it as a large group that the authorities get scared.

[HarryFeltersnach]

the same thing happened last time he visited Phoenix too. I think its fuckin bull shit.

[VisaFreak]

i think its fucked up how the 1st amendment doesnt mean shit in some circumstances like at schools and shit.