Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

I've been meaning to post something about this but kept not getting around to it (along with a lot of other stuff I'm not getting done). Since I just gathered up the info for a reply to a comment, this is a good time to repost it here ...

If you're going to disagree with the current administration, don't do it in person. Because political disagreement, you see, at least when it's the folks in power you're disagreeing with, is now assault.

Speech legitimately can be assault, of course, if it contains an explicit or implicit credible threat (lawyers reading this, please clarify or corect me?) but apparently merely telling Cheney you disapprove of him is now grounds for arrest. Don't you [fellow Americans among my readers, anyhow] feel lucky to be living in The Land Of The Free?

"Initially, I walked past him. Then I said to myself, I cant in good conscience let this opportunity pass by. So I approached him, I got about two feet away, and I said in a very calm tone of voice, 'Your policies in Iraq are reprehensible.'" -- Steve Howards

For this, Howards was arrested ten minutes later by the Secret Service and charged with assault.

(Important notes which do affect the significance and impact of this story: This happened 16 July -- but I heard nothing about it until Howards filed a wrongful arrest lawsuit at the beginning of this month, at which time the portion of the blogosphere I read noticed the story. The charge was later reduced to harassment, and charges were dropped in early July. So yes, I'm describing the event in emotional and dramatic terms because I do see it as being a disturbing stifling of dissent, but I'm not hiding -- nor ignorant of -- these details which may lead others to a different perspective on it.)

Gosh, it'd be awfully convenient if every time someone got in my face about my politics I could call 911 and have them arrested. Ya think that'll work, if I call the police the next time someone accuses me of being anti-American for wanting to protect the values the country was founded on, or describes politeness as "political correctness" and blames "people like me" for "what's wrong with society", or tells me I'm disgusting and shouldn't be allowed out in polite company because I don't neatly fit gender-norms? You think I can get them cuffed and hauled off to jail for assault? Or even for harassment?

I don't think so. Hell, I had trouble getting the police to take me seriously sitting in an emergency room twisted in pain after being beaten (that's battery), so I doubt a little thing like assault or harassment or having my politics disagreed with would count for anything.

Not unless I were a powerful Republican surrounded by an official anti-reality bubble. Heck, if telling Cheney what you think is assault, telling Bush something he doesn't want to hear is probably terrorism.

Here's where y'all can read about Howards' story, if you didn't already see it a week and a half ago the same places I saw it:

• http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4436043
• http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1005-20.htm
• http://www.infowars.com/articles/ps/cheney_assault_arrest_followed_word_to_cheney.htm
• http://www.gnn.tv/headlines/11626/Criticizing_Cheney_to_His_Face_Is_Assault (with reader comments)
• http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5039230,00.html
• http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:4E0wfm3eBjwJ:www.wendymcelroy.com/news.php%3Fextend.462+cheney+assault+speech&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=10&client=opera (mentions that assault charges were dropped 6 July)

Here's wishing Steve Howards success in court.