OFF: Free speech entended at US University!

[M Holmes]

Paul Mather writes:

> On Thu, Dec 11, 2003 at 01:45:06PM +0000, M Holmes wrote:
>
> => That University previously mentioned now has no fewer than six places
> => where you can speak freely:
> =>
> => http://www.thefire.org/pr.php?doc=texas_tech_120903.html
>
> Are these like the free speech areas into which President Bush corrals
> protesters during his campaign and official visits?

Who knows? I can't be a protestor because I have a day job (and let's
face it, because "You can't borrow your way out of debt dumbass!" isn't
as telegenic as some of the other, albeit less accurate, banners) and
the nearest I've ever been to an official Bush campaign is a flashing
"W" badge that someone ( a pal who's the son of a Republican Party
bigwig) gave me and which I use to locate the tent at night at Glasters.

> (Areas that are
> so far away from where he is appearing or passing by that they are
> literally out of his sight.

I daresay he needs room to squeeze in the two and a half phalanxes of
armed guards who accompany him on these walkabouts.

> They are also areas into which pro-Bush
> supporters are not required to be confined.)

Not that it makes much difference since both the folks inside the
conferences and outside are anti free-trade. The folks inside are just
more willing to be hypoccritical about it.

> I wonder if someone will file a lawsuit complaining of overcrowding in
> these campus free speech areas.  I would imagine such overcrowding
> would cause a lot of pain and suffering and undue emotional distress.

You've missed a key point: people who want free speech don't suffer from
feelings of oppression. They cause them.

What's clearly needed is another Amendment that says:

"Nobody has a right to never feel upset. There's upsetting shit going on.
 Deal with it."

FoFP