You have a right to free speech....

[demgurl]

as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it.

That is a line from a song by The Clash and it is called 'Know Your Rights' I have the lyrics at the end of this post.

I was reading a DU thread about Cindy Sheehan and how someone she knows was arrested for recruiting new people to protest, in England, against the war. It would seem that a law was passed that makes it illegal to protest in certain areas.

I sitting here thinking how absurd it is that there is restricted free speech. Either you have free speech or you do not. If you do not have free speech then it is not free now, is it?

How can you say US citizens have free speech when we are asked to sign loyalty oaths to hear * speak? How can we be free when we are escorted out of these gatherings just for having something against * written on our shirts?

I do understand there have to be certain restrictions such as not yelling 'fire' in a crowded theater but there should not be as many restrictions allowed as this current regime includes in their daily regimen.

It is the same as anything else this regime does. They take out Saddam because of torture and yet they run Gitmo, Abu and continue to rendition.

Everything is backward with these people and it seems to be more and more so with each passing day. And with each day that old Clash song seems to grow louder and louder. All of our rights are swishing down a drain with that government small enough to drown in a bathtub.

This government is the biggest killer of them all. The killer of hope, life, people and civil liberties.

demgurl

The Clash
Know Your Rights

This is a public service announcement
With guitar
Know your rights all three of them

Number 1
You have the right not to be killed
Murder is a crime!
Unless it was done by a
Policeman or aristocrat
Know your rights

And number 2
You have the right to food money
Providing of course you
Don’t mind a little
Investigation, humiliation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation

Know your rights
These are your rights
Wang

Know these rights

Number 3
You have the right to free
Speech as long as you’re not
Dumb enough to actually try it.

Know your rights
These are your rights
All three of ’em
It has been suggested
In some quarters that this is not enough!
Well..............................

Get off the streets
Get off the streets
Run
You don’t have a home to go to
Smush

Finally then I will read you your rights

You have the right to remain silent
You are warned that anything you say
Can and will be taken down
And used as evidence against you

Listen to this
Run

[meganmonkey]

1. I know from experience that you don't have the right to free speech

I was arrested for standing outside of the White House and yelling "LIAR LIAR LIAR" without a permit.

Can you imagine going to the cops and asking for a permit to do that? LOL
:shrug:

It's a great song, btw :)

[jilln]

2. I was arrested for being outside the protest zone...

later declared unconstitutional... charges dismissed, justice still not served...

It's more like pay as you go speech.

[demgurl]

4. jilln, I like that phrase...

'pay as you go speech'. That is cool. I am glad the charges were dropped against you.

By the way, I know it is late but welcome to DU.

demgurl

[demgurl]

3. Yeah, in my teens it was one of my favorites.

No, I can not imagine getting a permit for that or * allowing a permit for that! Free speech my ass!

demgurl