First Amendment

Last night before the State of Union address, Cindy Sheehan was removed from the gallery of the House of Representatives because she had a shirt that listed the number of dead US soldiers from the Iraq War. She didn't say anything, just started to take off her jacket when she was led away and arrested.

During the 2004 Presidential campaign the Bush campaign regularly had the Secret Service and local law enforcement arrest (or prevent from attending) anybody who wore tee shirts or in any way protested Bush's policies. Of course, Bush has been consistent about avoiding any audiences that might not like his policies.

I thought that the First Amendment guarantied our right to protest government policies that we objected to. The First Amendment is first in the Bill of Rights because our founders believed it to be of the highest importance. It is what sets the United States apart from many other countries (like Saddam's Iraq) where you risked your life by expressing an opinion contrary to the ruling government. Apparently, that is no longer the case.

Stand up for your First Amendment rights. This is a free country - at least we'd like to think it is.