bushies afraid of free speech

[drewshin]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-2362176,00.html

people try to protest, so they cancel the event because of concerns the event could be "politicized". what a great reason.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Well, to play my part as a devils advocate, I doubt Bush supporters would have been welcome in the last series of anti war protests. I object to war too, but I would not show up at a poetry read in hopes of furthering my agenda. Perhaps they could have staged this outside of the Whitehouse.

 

[yowolabi]

There was a pretty good "West Wing" show about something like this. I usually don't agree with Republicans, but I try to look at every issue by itself. They were organizing it to deliberately turn it from a salute to authors to an anti-war pep rally. Everyone's free to express their views, but why not just hold their own conference to do that instead of hijacking hers. She really didn't have any other choice but to cancel it. They could have left the event as neutral. If there were pro-war speeches, then they would have been justified to rebutt. Or if people independently decided to read something about war. The whole advanced planning thing is overboard.

Linked for you

 

[308nato]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
Well, to play my part as a devils advocate, I doubt Bush supporters would have been welcome in the last series of anti war protests. I object to war too, but I would not show up at a poetry read in hopes of furthering my agenda. Perhaps they could have staged this outside of the Whitehouse.

You play the part well. There are many venues available to protest all you want in an unrestricted fashion. I can understand not wanting to allow this poetry symposium to be turned into something like the Paul Wellstone "memorial".

Tell them all to sign up for ATOT.

 

[Electrode]

That reminds me, when Bush came here (== west Michigan) yesterday to run his mouth about Medicare (and the war of course), there were groups of both pro- and anti-bush protesters, as per normal. What was NOT normal, was that due to the small size of these groups, the police made them all stand in the same place, right next to eachother! :Q

The local news says there was lots of angry shouting but no fights. I was kinda hoping to see them start beating the crap outta eachother with their signs. That would be much more interesting than Bush's speech.

EDIT: typos

 

[achiral]

i hope there is a draft and you two get drafted and sent to war, that is the only way you young people will ever learn

 

[drewshin]

i understand what you're saying, but the article makes it seems like this event was invitation only from mrs. bush. i'm sure mrs. bush invited many people who had other viewpoints as well. she is just trying quash anything that could be critical of the administration (as least it seems to me.)

 

[Czar]

So many posts and no one linked this?

 

[308nato]

Originally posted by: achiral
i hope there is a draft and you two get drafted and sent to war, that is the only way you young people will ever learn

I don't know who you are talking to, but if its me, I am not young and I volunteered to serve my country over 20 years ago. I would gladly go again but I am to old.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: achiral
i hope there is a draft and you two get drafted and sent to war, that is the only way you young people will ever learn

If it's me, i'm already very anti-war. That's because I looked at the situation and analyzed it and formed logical reasons. The same way I looked at this issue and formed conclusions. Where is your rebuttal of anything I said, or do you just yell out that phrase anytime you think someone might be for war?

Drewshin:
The article mentions nothing about any movement to speak out for war, just anti-war. You can't just assume facts that aren't in evidence. On the other hand, we do know that there were extensive plans to turn the event into something it wasn't intended. There's a difference between saying you can't protest, to saying you can't protest with my money.

Edit: And I already said it would have been alright to mention your views if it turned political, but to plan in advance to hijack it leaves no choice but to cancel.

Sam Hamill, a poet and founder of the highly regarded Copper Canyon Press, declined the invitation and e-mailed friends asking for anti-war poems or statements. He encouraged those who planned to attend to bring along anti-war poems.

Hamill said he's gotten more than 1,500 contributions, including ones from poets W.S. Merwin, Adrienne Rich and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

``I'm putting in 18-hour days. I'm 60 and I'm tired, but it's pretty wonderful,'' says Hamill, based in Port Townsend, Wash., and author of such works as ``Destination Zero'' and ``Gratitude.''

Marilyn Nelson, Connecticut's poet laureate, said Wednesday that she had accepted the White House invitation and had planned to wear a silk scarf with peace signs that she commissioned.