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:
Here's wishing Steve Howards success in court.
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