'Domestic terrorists' impede Americans' rights to speak freely
Unfettered
Larry Burge
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Opinion
You know, sometimes I have difficulty understanding certain things.
Take light, for instance.
My mind has a hard time understanding the properties of light rays that scientists say are pervasive, and it's difficult to really grasp that light and the existence of matter go hand in hand.
Or take a simpler thing, such as the harmony arising from a finely tuned guitar plucked by a talented musician.
When I try to play the same music on a similar instrument, the noise that ensues sounds nothing like that harmony.
Within the past two weeks, something else has happened in Fayetteville that goes far beyond my mind's grasp.
Why would anyone believe that he or she has the right to take yard signs placed to express a person's preference for president, whether he be Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. John McCain?
When I put some thought as to why this might be happening around town, I came up with some reasons a thief could believe these brainless acts might be justified.
My first thought was that the thieves definitely did not pay much attention in school.
But if they mostly did, they must have slept through their U.S. history and civics classes.
Because almost anyone paying half attention in such classes would understand that the blood spilled on battlefields for the past 200 years by American's bravest has protected all U.S. citizens' rights and privileges to display their presidential preferences on signs in their front yards.
Likewise, unless brainless, anyone who has read the U.S. Constitution or has even heard about the freedoms we all share in this great country should know that when they take someone's political sign they should be considered a domestic terrorist.
And they are just as guilty of demeaning U.S. citizens' rights as the alien terrorists who flew planes into New York's Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
For to do such a despicable act as taking a sign from someone's yard stomps directly upon the graves of those who have died to allow all U.S. citizens their rights to express their views.
By doing these domestic terrorist acts, it is my opinion that the people taking signs have by doing so renounced their rights to call themselves U.S. citizens.
The thievery cannot be justified, anyway, because simply taking signs never will make any difference in people's votes.
However, I do wish those who have stolen signs against my and all Americans' rights, will suffer for their sins. Maybe they'll get an ulcer from guilt as they pass close by another displayed sign in a yard.
It is then that I might understand.
Larry Burge is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears occasionally on Fridays.
Take light, for instance.
My mind has a hard time understanding the properties of light rays that scientists say are pervasive, and it's difficult to really grasp that light and the existence of matter go hand in hand.
Or take a simpler thing, such as the harmony arising from a finely tuned guitar plucked by a talented musician.
When I try to play the same music on a similar instrument, the noise that ensues sounds nothing like that harmony.
Within the past two weeks, something else has happened in Fayetteville that goes far beyond my mind's grasp.
Why would anyone believe that he or she has the right to take yard signs placed to express a person's preference for president, whether he be Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. John McCain?
When I put some thought as to why this might be happening around town, I came up with some reasons a thief could believe these brainless acts might be justified.
My first thought was that the thieves definitely did not pay much attention in school.
But if they mostly did, they must have slept through their U.S. history and civics classes.
Because almost anyone paying half attention in such classes would understand that the blood spilled on battlefields for the past 200 years by American's bravest has protected all U.S. citizens' rights and privileges to display their presidential preferences on signs in their front yards.
Likewise, unless brainless, anyone who has read the U.S. Constitution or has even heard about the freedoms we all share in this great country should know that when they take someone's political sign they should be considered a domestic terrorist.
And they are just as guilty of demeaning U.S. citizens' rights as the alien terrorists who flew planes into New York's Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
For to do such a despicable act as taking a sign from someone's yard stomps directly upon the graves of those who have died to allow all U.S. citizens their rights to express their views.
By doing these domestic terrorist acts, it is my opinion that the people taking signs have by doing so renounced their rights to call themselves U.S. citizens.
The thievery cannot be justified, anyway, because simply taking signs never will make any difference in people's votes.
However, I do wish those who have stolen signs against my and all Americans' rights, will suffer for their sins. Maybe they'll get an ulcer from guilt as they pass close by another displayed sign in a yard.
It is then that I might understand.
Larry Burge is a columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears occasionally on Fridays.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Megan
posted 10/24/08 @ 12:16 AM CST
I understand your point. Stealing signs is thievery and just plain wrong.
But I'm not quite sure the motives are so deep and subversive as you think. (Continued…)
unimpressed
posted 10/24/08 @ 8:09 AM CST
Domestic terrorists? You've got to be kidding...
Why don't you stop disrespecting the dead with these ridiculous comparisons?
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