Jeffrey Francis Longtin on sat 28 dec 02
Mary,
Was planning on sitting this one out until I came upon your posting. Defend
his right to do stupid things in the public sphere but please, PLEASE, do not
cite the Constitution or the First Amendment in
Yes you have the right to say, or do, what you want within reason. No you do
not have the right to do that which might cause harm or injury to another
person.
You may not think what you do is harmful, that's fine, however, someone else
might.
And if that someone else gets a better lawyer than yours than you've got
problems. You might not go to jail, no, but you may pay a heavy fine for your
"rights".
THAT is the American way, by the way.
(DWI laws are a good case in point. Until recently alcoholics could get
drunk, get in their cars, and kill someone with impunity. "I did not intend
to hurt anyone" was an acceptable explanation. Not anymore. If you drink,
and you drive, AND you kill or injury someone you now pay heavy consequences
if you don't in fact go to jail. Not anticipating the outcome of your actions
is no longer acceptable.)
The Constitution is a legal document. It's strength is that it is tested in
the courts everyday. That is how it should be. You can CLAIM your rights in
any situation you want. You might be forced to define, and defend, your
rights, however, in court.
THAT TOO is the American way.
The suggestion that the security forces should have done a better job in
preventing this really bothers me. A sane soceity is one based upon the
principle that its citizens act responsibly in the public sphere. By doing so
we minimize the need for a strong police presence. If we accept the arguement
that this event is really the fault of the police are we not inviting a
police state?
Jeff Longtin
Les Crimp on sat 28 dec 02
I know I should not enter this discussion as it U.S.A. based, but some of
the arguments prompted me to wonder........
I wonder if this "fear" installation would have created this heated
discussion if it had taken place in the 50's?
Is this a result of the devastation in New York City or is it a societal
reaction?
Les Crimp on that Island in the Pacific.(Vancouver Island)
lcrimp@shaw.ca
www.arrowsmithpottersguild.bc.ca
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