Contact
Subscribe


Free Speech Zones

Mar 20, 2008
By .
Politics & Current Events

Man, I hate the very ideas of these things. The concept that there are designated areas for people to say what they think (always away from the actual protest area, for the "protesters safety" of course) is silly at best. The name is Thought Speak at it's finest.

The latest incursion of free speech zones? The ever liberal city of San Francisco. It seems that when the Olympic torch makes it's only US appearance in the City, protesters will be kept far, far away. In fact, the exact route of the torch and the starting time of the ceremony won't even be announced. This is the first time in San Francisco's long and colorful history of protests that free speech zones have told us where we can exercise the first amendment.

The ever weasel Mayor Gavin Newsom is shocked that someone would try to politicize the Olympics. Saying that the City is "privileged" to be the torch's only stop in North America and that the event should rise above political concerns. Should it rise above the concern that China is successfully using it's influence with the City to suppress any dissent or acknowledgement of it's human rights atrocities? (China has an impressive track record of getting the City to back down, on things as mundane as the Falun Gong marching in the Chinese New Year Parade.)

Are the Olympics political? Let's ask Jesse Owens.

Last 5 posts by Ezra

2 Comments
Tags ,

2 Comments

  1. Ken  •  Mar 20, 2008 @10:50 am

    Setting up free speech zones to prevent your people from tripping over their hemp sandals during a stampede to grab freecycle Che shirts is one thing.

    But doing it because China asks for it? That's pathetic.

    So, will you be going, Ezra? I bet SF has some nice fresh Freedom Wire on top of the Liberty Fences in its free speech zones.

  2. Patrick  •  Mar 20, 2008 @11:12 am

    The USOC recommended San Francisco as the city to host the torch because of the city's "wonderful Olympic tradition," many Olympians having lived and trained in the Bay Area, Seibel said. He also noted the city's cultural connections to China and the city's interactions with the committee in previous bids to host the Games.

    Follow the money.