A few days ago I ran across an interesting item in one of my many feeds. I even commented about it on the author's blog and wrote a post about it of my own. It was a short piece about Googling Tiananmen. Kill Ugly Radio then posted a comment on my site. I thought that this was a good example of how we have freedoms that the Chinese don't. We have a country where we can openly exchange ideas... or do we?
Although I feel that his views are, politically, different than mine, I did gain a sense of satisfaction because of the exchange that can occur. Unfortunately, reality does not let such things last long...
Seems that T-shirts are making the news these days. Apparently two people were ejected from The State of the Union Address. It seems that T-shirts are considered "a protest". You can read several different versions of the story. Take your pick: Michael Moore's Site, an Associated Press article or KWTX of Texas. You can even read Cindy's own telling of her arrest. I have commented before that history is often written by the victor and reality lies between the lines. What do we have here?
Reading all three articles (and many more) and a few more on it I can conclude the following:
- Cindy Sheehan did attend the event, was removed and arrested. The CNN media coverage of this happening is what brought me to Google to look for stories on it. There are photos of her being removed. Furthermore, since she was arrested there is documented evidence of this.
- Cindy Sheehan was wearing a T that said "2,242 dead. How many more!". She admits it, there are photos of it. I am confident that is what she was wearing.
- Cindy claims that she was not asked to remove the T. She claims she was simply removed.
- Beverly Young was asked ejected from the event... Maybe? That is what the Associated Press article I read said but, in the same article, the police sergeant claims she left voluntarily. She bore a T that said "Support the Troops -- Defending Our Freedom"
- Read this article and notice the inconsistencies and slant toward the government.
The most obvious thing is were are not getting the whole story here. This is the norm unfortunately and, equally sad, it is human nature to taint things in the directions we tend to lean.
I have a few very honest questions here; some things that concern my pretty conservative personality. Some are even questioning the story about Mrs. Young. Let me rant for a bit...
Who decided that wearing a T-shirt makes one a protester?
The Free Dictionary gives the following definitions:
Noun - 1. a person who dissents from some established policy. 2. someone who participates in a public display of group feeling
So let me see here... One is either a member of a "group" or could be an individual "dissenting". So how do two individuals, wearing T-shirts presenting opposing views, both become considered protesters? Furthermore, how is expressing either opinion "dissenting" if we live in a land where we are free to express our opinion?
If I attended the event and wore a T-shirt that said "question everything": would I be ejected or arrested? Good golly, what if I wore the old ratty one I have that says "Vizulize Whirled Peas"? (Actually, I wonder if they would figure that one out.. heh) How about a T with imprinted with the ten commandments?
Do you get the impression I think they went too far?
Why not just ask them to cover up the T-shirt?
Maybe it is just me but that seems more reasonable.
Why did one "protester" get arrested and the other not?
Interesting eh? I also like how an associated press reporter stated that they were treated the same.
The bottom line is something just stinks here. Neither of these women should have been even asked to leave. That is the only fact that matters.
