TASERED

Following a long-winded speech by Sen. John Kerry at the University of Florida yesterday, 21-year-old Andrew Meyer began asking a long-winded question. A campus police officer suggested that he wrap it up. Meyer, a political activist with his own web site, declined to do so. He was wrestled to the ground by six officers, stabbed with an electrical device, given a 50,000 volt surge, and charged with disturbing the peace.

Doubtless Meyer was over the top, out of control, and perhaps even abusing his right of free speech; but still, he has the right and the incident raises a number of serious questions: Since when is it a crime to speak out at a political rally, even if you're obnoxious - especially if you're obnoxious? Who decides how long a question can be or what can be asked? A police officer is empowered to arrest suspected criminals, but is he also permitted to mete out punishment on the spot? Why were six officers unable to subdue a single kid without using a paralyzing taser gun? Would they have been just as comfortable putting a bullet in his head?

I honestly don’t give a tinker’s damn if O. J. Simpson goes to jail or if Britney Spears gets her groove back. My country is being stolen by flag waving patriots and no one is doing anything about it. Sally Field was cut off at the EMMY’s for talking about the “goddamned war”. It’s the war that’s obscene, not the expletive. A young man was tasered by police, the people who are supposed to protect us, for speaking his mind at a public meeting. These are no longer just incidents, they are a trend!

“Give me liberty of give me death,” is what Patrick Henry said, not, “Give me liberty or give me an ipod, an iphone, and You Tube.”

a foot on either side